Less than three years after launching Anne Arundel County Public Schools’ inaugural elementary Best Buddies chapter, Waugh Chapel Elementary School has brought home another first: best elementary chapter in the nation.

The announcement of the Overall Outstanding Elementary of the Year honor came last night at Best Buddies International’s 2026 Leadership Conference. The organization is dedicated to helping people with intellectual and developmental disabilities form meaningful friendships with their peers, secure successful jobs, live independently, and develop self-advocacy and communication skills.

“This honor reflects the work of so many people in and around the Waugh Chapel community on so many levels,” said Waugh Chapel special education teacher Mollie Dwyer, who oversees the school’s chapter. “Our Best Buddies chapter has become more than a school club; it is a model for friendship, acceptance, leadership, and lasting community impact. Best Buddies’ theme of ‘One Team, One World’ is something we truly try to live out every day at Waugh Chapel.”

At Waugh Chapel, more than 130 students were involved in the chapter in the 2025-2026 school year. Waugh Chapel boasts the largest elementary chapter in Maryland and the fourth largest in the United States. Across the world, there are 165 elementary Best Buddies chapters.

Said Amber Yates, Director of Programs for Best Buddies International: “When the teachers at Waugh Chapel first approached Best Buddies two years ago about becoming an official chapter, we knew they were passionate – but we had no idea just how profound their impact would be. Since then, they haven't just built an exceptional chapter; they have created a space where students with and without disabilities feel safe to ask questions, build meaningful relationships, and truly feel seen, heard, and valued. Waugh Chapel has truly set the standard for what an elementary school chapter can be, proving that when students are empowered to lead with kindness and understanding, the ripple effect can transform an entire community.”

Waugh Chapel’s program is made up of students with and without disabilities who pair together to foster friendships and promote inclusion. The chapter holds monthly events that include lessons about disability awareness and acceptance and games that celebrate the unique abilities of each individual.

“I could not be more proud of the work that goes on every day inside and outside of our school,” Waugh Chapel Principal Todd Stanzione said. “Ms. Dwyer and everyone involved with our Best Buddies chapter are so deserving of this spotlight.”

Following in the footsteps of Waugh Chapel’s work, six other elementary schools sponsored Best Buddies chapters in the 2025-2026 school year.