Matty Galligan has accomplished much. Many could extol his academic talents: he is an excellent student, who enjoys history and geography. He can do math problems in his head. But among the EagleEyes buddies, Matty is known for his other talents. Matty is exceptionally good at EagleEyes video games.

With or without the advantage of a mouse, Campus Buddies have a difficult time competing with Matty. In particular, many students marvel at his ability in Othello. The game involves a great deal of strategy. "This game is really hard and Matty is really good at it," says Buddy Kristen Nazar ‘04.

Despite his reputation for obliterating his opponents, Matty has numerous buddies who vie for his attention. Matty is far more than an excellent video game partner. He is an excellent companion. It is clear that both Matty and his Campus Buddies have gained a great deal from their relationship.

In just one day, Matty was joined by Kristen Nazar, Gaby Ghafari ‘04 and Sue Mulready ‘05. "Being Matty’s buddy is a privilege. There are limited spaces available in his sessions and I have been lucky enough to find out why." says Sue Mulready.

"Matty makes you feel very special. Not only does he allow us to share his academic journey but he shares bits of his life with us as well as comments on our lives." says Gaby Ghafari.

Matty’s buddies have learned things they can’t learn in a classroom. "Matty has been through a lot of physical pain in his life and I cannot fathom how frustrating some of the limits imposed by his condition must be for him sometimes. But, every week he continues to be dedicated to learning," says Kristen Nazar.

Matty has learned from his buddies as well. Matty’s mother explains that Matty has gained insight into the life of others his age. Because of his disability, Matty hasn’t interacted with as many people his own age as he would like. EagleEyes gives Matty the opportunity to learn about their lives and to share in their interests.

It is clear that Matty enjoys his time with his buddies. "There have been times when Matty has been so carried away with laughing fits that he seems like he is struggling to breathe at the end. He really enjoys his buddies and he definitely makes it known." says Sue Mulready.

At Boston College, EagleEyes doesn’t just facilitate learning, it facilitates friendships. Students with and without physical disabilities have had the opportunity to form lifelong friendships with their college peers. Through EagleEyes, both Matty and his buddies have gained perspective about the lives of others their age.