New Student-Led Buddy Program Fosters Lasting Friendships

When Lexi Turner ’28 met Betsy Morris ’31 during last spring’s musical, they became fast friends in spite of (or maybe because of) their three-year age difference.

“We bonded really quickly,” Lexi said. “I was able to help her through a lot of life situations, because I had already gone through those things myself.”

Lexi had an idea: “As a Debbie Robson [Merit] Scholar, I had been looking for ways to honor Mrs. Robson’s legacy. Mrs. Robson loved the unity and community of Steward. I wanted to help other people have the friendship Betsy and I have.”

With the support of Middle and Upper School administrators, especially Middle School Director Susan Atkinson, Lexi started the Middle and Upper School buddy program. It pairs current sixth graders with students in grades nine and ten. About 100 students have opted in to participate.

“The idea,” Lexi said, “is that by the time the younger students get to Upper School, they are already good friends with a senior who can support them and show them the way.”

The students have met twice this year: The first time they played icebreaker games, and the second time they worked together to create a secret handshake.

Many of the buddy pairs have exchanged contact information, Lexi said, and are connecting both at school and after. “I know the buddies have been getting closer,” Lexi said. “A lot of people have told me since the meeting, ‘I love my buddy! I have been getting to know them and we have similar interests.’”

This program exemplifies Steward’s core values of care & respect and inspiration. “For the younger students, the buddy program gives them an older friend to rely on: one who can answer questions, and who’s there for them to help solve problems,” Lexi said. “For older students, this teaches us responsibility. It’s up to us to stay connected with our buddies and look out for them.”

Mrs. Robson, who served as Steward’s Associate Head of School for Community Advancement before passing away suddenly in 2014, would have loved this program. The Debbie Robson Merit Scholarship provides four years of full Upper School tuition to a rising ninth grader who is new to Steward. Recipients are chosen on the basis of academic distinction and extracurricular involvement in areas such as athletics, arts, innovation, or community service.