Meet Southeast Polk High School Members Mallory Lovejoy and Autumn Ollom

Mallory Lovejoy (left of picture) and Autumn Ollom (right of picture) will both be seniors at Southeast Polk High School next year. Mallory and Autumn have been in Best Buddies for 3 years as well as matched for 3 years, the two have also been friends since kindergarten. Mallory says one of her favorite memories from their time in Best Buddies is karaoke, the kickball game, and even the time they went out to ice cream and Autumn never stopped laughing.

Mallory joined Best Buddies to make new friends and maintain the friendship that she already had with Autumn. Some achievements and milestones the duo have completed while being a part of Best Buddies is Mallory has become part of the leadership team as the chapter’s treasurer and the Friendship Walk Coordinator for the Friendship Walk team.

“My time on the leadership team has been filled with incredible experiences, from being the friendship walk captain to my current role as the Vice President of the high school chapter. I have also had the incredible experience of attending the Best Buddies Leadership Conference. I’ve truly enjoyed helping our chapter grow into what it is today.” Mallory shared.

Autumn and Mallory also became ambassadors for Best Buddies this spring during the Central Iowa Ambassador training held at Sammons Financial Group. Best Buddies has given Mallory a strong sense of purpose and the feeling that she is making a true difference. It has also inspired Mallory to become a developmental pediatrician to help children with an intellectual or developmental disability. Mallory has gained meaningful friendship and a greater purpose in life due to the program.

Mallory says that Autumn has gained so many friendships since joining Best Buddies. However, more importantly Best Buddies has provided inclusive opportunities inside the school but also outside of school hours.

“Many people with special needs get left out of outside of the school activities (gatherings, birthday parties, dinners, days out). Best Buddies has helped Autumn to spread her wings, gain more friendships, and be more independent than otherwise could have been.” Mallory said.

Mallory also says that Autumn strives to be able to be social and be herself and Best Buddies has also allowed Autumn to do just that and more! Mallory and the rest of the Southeast Polk High School members are super excited for all the events they have coming up and Mallory is specifically excited to welcome all new members and of course thrilled to get to spend senior year together with Autumn!

Mallory’s message she would like to share with others in the community about the importance of inclusion and friendship is that “Inclusion and friendship is simple. It does not take much to be nice someone and to include them, and that can make a world of a difference.”