The High School Heroes program celebrates the community’s younger generation who are making Las Vegas — and in some cases, the world — a better place.

At Palo Verde High School, Maddy Hanlon-Oviatt’s leadership within the school’s Best Buddies chapter earned her the Best Social Impact honor. Best Buddies is a nationwide inclusion program that encourages friendships between students with and without intellectual disabilities.

Maddy, who is the Palo Verde chapter’s president, leads with empathy. She was nonverbal until first grade and said the experience helped develop an understanding of challenges faced by students with special needs.

Hanlon-Oviatt grew the school’s Best Buddies chapter from 21 members to over one hundred. The group was named the National Outstanding High School Chapter of the Year for the 2023/2024 school year.

“Maddy ensures that all students feel included and have a positive experience,” her nominators wrote.

Maddy said the relationships were her true reward.

“Best Buddies is about creating friends, and those friends bring (the best) out of you,” she said.