PEN PAL PROGRAM

The Partnership was jumpstarted at the initiative of Ms. Hajdu with the support of IWU Director of Alumni Relations Ann Harding, who provided IWU memorabilia to Orchard Place fourth graders.6 The class has "adopted" IWU and will research and cheer for the university.7 The next step is for Orchard Place students to develop connections with IWU students across the university through a pen-pals program.  Through these connections, Orchard Place students will learn from their college pen pals that they are worthy of their time and effort.8

IWU students’ letters to Orchard Place students will provide information about college life and the importance of college to the achievement of their professional and personal goals and aspirations.  Orchard Place students will write back with questions and news about themselves, their school and their classroom.  Additional partnership goals include student field trips to the IWU campus and visits by IWU students to the Orchard Place classroom. 

Through their knowledge, experience, and by example, IWU pen pals will provide Orchard Place students ways to expand their horizons and thereby increase the likelihood that they will achieve success.  By drawing upon their own life experiences, IWU pen pals will provide a living example of the attainability and value of a college education.9

Program Benefits

Orchard Place students will

  • Develop an awareness of the educational achievement and skills they will need for success in their own career paths, and do so just prior to the critical years of middle school.
  • Learn about possible career choices they might not otherwise be able to explore.
  • Develop relationships with adults who have been successful in their own student lives.
  • Receive encouragement for their own goals and dreams from caring adults.
  • Practice and improve their reading and writing skills, critical for success in school.
  • Be connected to a world outside beyond their home and school borders.
  • Develop confidence in their abilities and potential.
  • Be inspired to achieve academically, and begin to see college as an achievable goal.
  • IWU students and teacher candidates will have the opportunity to
  • Serve as a role models and mentors for young students.
  • Have a significant impact on the lives of young students.
  • Strengthen leadership skills.
  • Learn more about the literacy development and thinking of young students.
  • Develop skills in communicating with and motivating young students.

The university will

  • Demonstrate a commitment to service, social justice, and professional development by supporting the efforts of SEA volunteers and other participating university students from across campus.
  • Enhance alumni relationships by partnership with an alumnus.
  • Enhance teacher education by partnering with a public school with a diverse student body, and which is committed to social justice.
  • Strengthen partnerships with K-12 schools to enhance the potential diversity of prospective student applicants. 
  • Strengthen partnerships with K-12 schools to enhance the academic achievement of potential prospective student applicants. 

6 See the article, http://www.titanpride.org/s/653/index.aspx?sid=653&gid=1&pgid=665&cid=1421&ecid=1421&crid=0&calpgid=61&calcid=1306

7 If the number of IWU volunteers warrants, the partnership may grow to include additional Orchard Place classrooms, or  provide for  one-to-one matches, at the discretion of the Ms. Hajdu.

8 US Department of Education.  (1998). Yes, You Can: A Guide for Establishing Mentoring Programs to Prepare Youth for College.  Retrieved 16 September 2008 from  http://www.ed.gov/pubs/YesYouCan/sect1.html#why.

9 US Department of Education.  (1998). Yes, You Can: A Guide for Establishing Mentoring Programs to Prepare Youth for College.  Retrieved 16 September 2008 from  http://www.ed.gov/pubs/YesYouCan/sect1.html#why