LOWELL, Mass. – UMass Lowell Athletics hosted its fourth annual Pen Pal Play Day at Costello Athletic Center on Friday, May 2, in conjunction with Lowell Public Schools to celebrate another successful year of partnership through the Pen Pal Program.
 
Since September, UMass Lowell student-athletes have exchanged letters with six classrooms of elementary students spanning five different schools. There were 129 total pen pal matches, making up a third of the River Hawk student-athlete population. 
 
"I always advocate that our student-athletes are reaping a lot of reward from being a UMass Lowell student and a UMass Lowell student-athlete, and because of that, they should strive to help our community," said program coordinator and UMass Lowell Athletic Academic coordinator Sima Suon. "These kids are their fans at their games, and they're the ones who are aspiring to be just like them one day."
 
It was indeed a rewarding experience for the River Hawks to finally meet their pen pals in person and grow their relationship.
 
"It's great that the Lowell Public Schools are so close to the university because we're able to give back to the community, having them all involved with us," said Megan Milkowich, a senior education major on the women's lacrosse team.
 
Tara Bedard, a teacher at one of the participating schools since the program's inception, said she's experienced the lasting impacts of the connections that these pen pals make. She recalled a story about a former River Hawk student-athlete who had recently sent a follow-up letter in braille to their pen pal, who was blind.
 
"I just feel like these are connections that kids are going to remember forever," Bedard said. "And it's such a cool experience for them to come and visit a college campus for the day because they might not have that chance outside of what we do here."
 
Barb Smith, a UMass Lowell track and field throws coach, is also a local teacher, participating in the program from both perspectives. She's also seen the benefit of welcoming elementary students to a college campus.
 
"That's one of the biggest benefits, is they see student-athletes that are like them and that they're here at a university getting a degree," Smith said. "It makes them realize that they can do it right here without ever going away if they don't want to."
 
The elementary students had been counting down the days until they could come to UMass Lowell to meet their pen pals in person. Elizabeth Baldwin, a second-grade teacher at Lincoln Elementary, said the program offers an outlet for her students to practice their writing while also building a connection with their peers in the community.
 
"Today has been such a whirlwind for them," Baldwin said. "I am seeing smiles that are ear to ear."
 
Nhyira Nkansah, a sophomore on the women's track and field team, did not fully realize the impact she had as a student-athlete on the youth in the area before the Pen Pal Program.
 
"It showed me the platform student-athletes have," Nkansah said. "You kind of just see it as you play a sport and then you go to class, but these kids really look up to us and they actually keep tabs on what we do, and they're always watching. So I think being able to form this kind of relationship with them not only shows them the things they can do after they get through middle and high school and college, but it also shows them that there are people out there that want to support them in the community."
 
The experience is that much more meaningful for Trevor Tismo of the men's lacrosse team, as well, as an Ohio native who was not as familiar with the Lowell community when he first stepped onto campus.
 
"Pen Pals has been a great way to get to know the community and the kids here, and kind of give you perspective as a college athlete," Tismo concluded.