Ashley Hutton, a senior and two-time Chapter President, has spent her college years building one of the strongest Best Buddies chapters in Pennsylvania. Under her leadership, the chapter has grown to 100 active members, created 30 one-to-one friendships, and organized over 15 inclusive events. Her passion for inclusion and her drive to foster meaningful relationships have set a powerful example of what student leadership can achieve!

Ashley has twice represented her chapter at the Best Buddies Leadership Conference, where she gained skills and strategies that she brought back to her campus—and shared with others. This program year, she even spoke to the entire Best Buddies staff, offering insights into how national teams can better support college chapters around the world. Her chapter has achieved 5-star status, and it’s clear that her influence has helped it thrive.

In recognition of her extraordinary commitment and impact, Ashley has been named the 2025 Best Buddies Volunteer of the Year. Brianna Wolfle, Director of State Operations and Programs for Best Buddies in Pennsylvania, praised Ashley’s dedication: “Ashley is a phenomenal leader whose passion for inclusion has made a lasting impact. Her ability to bring people together and build sustainable programs is exactly what Best Buddies is all about. We are so proud to recognize her as our Volunteer of the Year.”

For the past three years, she has organized and led a satellite Friendship Walk in Lancaster—an area without local Best Buddies staff. This year’s walk brought together five chapters and raised over $1,500, all while remaining a free and inclusive celebration of community and connection.

Ashley’s dedication goes far beyond event planning. She’s a relationship-builder, a mentor, and a fierce advocate for inclusion. As she prepares to graduate and begin her career as a social worker, her legacy will continue to shape the Best Buddies mission for years to come.

Congratulations, Ashley Hutton—our 2025 Volunteer of the Year! Your leadership inspires us all.