When Jenni Anne was matched with the Georgia Tech cheer team in April 2024, she expected lots of pom-poms and practice; but what she didn’t anticipate was finding her people.
Living with Wiedmann-Steiner Syndrome (WSS), Jenni Anne has often faced challenges when it comes to forming connections with peers. But from the very first moment she met her teammate Berkeley Chandler, everything changed. “Jenni Anne and Berkeley bonded from the beginning,” said Jenni Anne’s mom, Abbi. “Berkeley treats Jenni Anne like a peer, and it means the world to her and to us.”
Jenni Anne and Berkeley were instant “besties,” as they lovingly call each other. “When she is with her, she feels like she is with her best friend—just comfortable and understood,” Abbi said. Berkeley was the first person Jenni Anne met on her first visit to campus, and from that moment, Berkeley made Jenni Anne feel safe, seen, and celebrated—not as someone different, but as someone deeply valued. So when Jenni Anne was making her nomination video for Teammate of the Year, she knew Berkeley deserved her recognition.
Berkeley treats Jenni Anne like she treats every other member of the team and includes her as such as well. From long talks to FaceTime calls to warming up at practice together to just hanging out, Berkeley makes sure Jenni Anne knows she is there. “Jenni Anne was so comfortable with Berkeley and could sense it was a safe space,” Abbi said. “Berkeley talks to her like a peer, not like someone younger or different, but an equal. It gives Jenni Anne a sense of belonging and friendship that she longs for.”
Berkeley includes Jenni Anne in warm-ups, practices, and meals, and always takes time to explain things when Jenni Anne doesn’t understand. When Jenni Anne was struggling with the tough transition to middle school, it was Berkeley who FaceTimed her to check-in, listen, and offer support and advice. One moment that emphasizes the kind of person Berkeley is, Abbi recalled, was their first outing with the team. “Jenni Anne started to get a little overstimulated and upset that it was ending,” Abbi said. “Berkeley discreetly and so sincerely asked me what would best help in that situation and what she could do to make it easier for Jenni Anne. It meant so much to us that she took the time to ask and learn and that she truly cared.”
And caring is something Berkeley does deeply. Each year, Jenni Anne and her family host a fundraiser and awareness event to shine more light on WSS. This year, it happened to be at a very busy time of the year for college students, right before holiday break during finals. But this didn’t stop Berkeley from showing up. She and another teammate drove more than 45 minutes to surprise Jenni Anne and be there for her big day. “It meant so much to Jenni Anne and to our family that they took the time to be there for her,” Abbi said. “If you ask her what she loved most about that day, it was that she got to share it with two of her teammates, and Berkeley made that happen.”
These moments, and so many more, define the true friendship Jenni Anne and Berkeley share. Berkeley even created a scrapbook for Jenni Anne to make the memories of their first year together last a lifetime. “For our family, the best moments are seeing Jenni Anne light up anytime she is with the team,” Abbi said. “The joy they bring to her is priceless. Being included has meant so much to her and to our family.”
That inclusion, confidence, and pride Jenni Anne feels when she is on the field with Berkeley and her teammates has bled into so many other parts of her life. She has always been social but has often struggled to connect with her peers, which has left her longing for friendship, Abbi said. But this experience has given her confidence and pride in who she is and where she belongs. “Joining Team IMPACT has given her the friendships she has longed for and so much more. Team IMPACT and Georgia Tech Cheer have given her a place to belong, and we have never seen her happier,” Abbi said.“We have noticed that she has gained more confidence in herself since joining Georgia Tech and becoming a part of the team. She has such a sense of pride and tells everyone she meets that she is a Georgia Tech cheerleader! When she is with the team, she does not have to try and be anybody else but herself, and that means the world to us.”
From texts to FaceTimes, surprise visits to shared laughter, Berkeley has shown what it means to be a teammate through and through. She lifts Jenni Anne up, celebrates her victories, and walks with her through the hard days too.
For Jenni Anne and her family, this isn’t just about being on a team—it’s about being part of something bigger than herself and finding friendships Jenni Anne always hoped for. “I love that when Jenni Anne does something new or accomplishes something, she wants to send a message to tell Berkeley,” Abbi said, “like something a typical teen would do with their best friend. It allows us to experience that too. Berkeley always meets Jenni Anne where she is and is just the friend she needs.”
