You’ve Got a Friend in Me
December 29, 2018 | Women's Basketball, Badgers Give Back, Varsity Magazine
Student-athletes pair up with elementary students as pen pals
MADISON, Wis. — Every kid deserves a positive role model to look up to, and the Badgers were primed and ready to step into that role this fall.
Seventy-five Wisconsin student-athletes paired up with over ninety third through fifth graders from the Lussier Community Education Center and Randall Elementary to be pen pals for the semester.
The buddies passed notebooks back and forth every week. Exchanging letters, drawings, and photos. By the end of the program, each kid had a notebook full of memories to take home with them.
"Writing and spending time with you was the highlight of my semester! You are my little brother now," writes Faion Hicks, a sophomore on the football team, to his buddy Amaree.
In addition to the notebook exchanges, the Badgers also had the opportunity to visit their buddies for recess, after-school activities, and hosted them on campus for the women's basketball home opener.
Diamond Bragg, a freshman on the women's basketball team, explained, "These relationships have gone beyond the notebook helping to establish a long-lasting friendship that will continue to grow beyond this program."
The Badgers came into the program excited to serve as role models, but the kids also taught them a lesson or two.
Madison Cone, a sophomore on the football team, shared, "with the intent of impacting Jon Jon's life, I never thought he would have such a positive impact on mine."
Cone has continued to spend time with Jon Jon outside of the pen pal program, most recently attending a Badger basketball game with him and his family.
There is growing excitement from both student-athletes and kids for the return of the program this spring.
Annie Wagner, a senior on the track team who has participated the past two semesters, shared, "I like pen pals because it's a way to show support for the Madison community, while being able to hang out with and support some amazing students."
As this program continues to expand its reach, the Badger family continues to grow alongside of it.
