Miss USA Pays Visit To Best Buddies - Best Buddies Pennsylvania

by BRADFORD PEARSON
Gazette.Net | Staff Writer
December 17, 2008

Erika & Valerie, buddy pair from magothy River Middle School, walk the red carpet.

When the 60-plus members of Walter Johnson High School's Best Buddies program gathered for a group meeting Friday morning, they expected a usual day.

What they got was anything but.

While the students drew holiday cards for troops overseas, the door opened and in walked Miss USA Crystle Stewart, her white "Miss USA" sash gleaming in the classroom's fluorescent lights.

After a chorus full of "Oh my god" and "Wow," Stewart sat and chatted with students, viewed their cards and fielded questions.

"I liked her because she thought my dance was cool," said freshman Peter Mullin, after performing a hula for Stewart. "I think Miss USA is pretty awesome."

Best Buddies is an international group aimed at connecting intellectually disabled and mainstream students together for friendship and group activities. The group was founded by Potomac native Anthony Kennedy Shriver in 1989. There are more than 1,400 chapters worldwide.

Stewart was in town for a statewide Best Buddies event in Rockville last weekend, according to Best Buddies Maryland State Director Christian Metzger, and the group thought it would be a good idea to show her some of the state's best chapters.

The Miss USA pageant has a working relationship with the Best Buddies program nationwide, Metzger said, but Stewart also has a personal connection to the group.

Before she was Miss USA, Stewart was a teacher for autistic students in Texas, and also has a learning-disabled sister.

"If I can just pay one visit to these students and brighten up someone's day, I've done my job," she said after meeting with the students. "I probably do more Best Buddies events than other Miss USAs, but it's because of my personal story."

In addition to Stewart, two Miss Marylands were also in attendance: Miss Maryland 2008 Casandra Tressler and Miss Maryland 2009 Gabrielle Carlson.

"It was awesome," said senior Eli Lewis, of meeting Stewart. "She said she liked my card … she's good, good, good."

Walter Johnson Best Buddies chapter president Yasmin Radbod was one of the few students who knew about Stewart's plan before her arrival. She said having a celebrity meet with the group was good for morale.

"When a guest like this comes, it shows that they care," the 16-year-old senior said. "It's just phenomenal, and brings the whole group closer together."

Stewart also visited Centennial High School in Ellicott City later on Friday. Metzger said the schools were chosen because they both had "outstanding chapters."

In Sept. 2007, the Walter Johnson group was named as the most outstanding Best Buddies chapter in the world by Best Buddies International.