Pen Pal Program Started to Build Bridges
2/12/2016 12:00:00 AM | Water Polo
Feb. 12, 2016
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan water polo team had a different vibe at practice on Friday (Feb. 12) as every time a shot was fired or a save was made they heard a ring of cheers throughout Canham Natatorium.
Those cheers were coming from a second grade class from nearby Burns Park Elementary. The class is taught by Mary Chatigny, a 2009 Michigan water polo graduate, who started a pen pal program between her class and the current U-M student-athletes.
During her playing days Chatigny was a two-year team captain who finished her career with 116 goals, 108 assists and 104 steals. An impressive player for the Wolverines, Chatigny noticed how the team did not have a connection to those who played before them.
"I really wanted to do my part to make sure the bond stayed connected with the current girls on the team and our alumni," said Chatigny. "Also being a teacher, I started thinking about ways to make writing meaningful and purposeful for my class, and that is how the pen pal program started."
For the past three years Chatigny, who got an undergraduate degree in sociology and a master's in elementary education, has had her class write to the Michigan water polo players. In return, the players respond with their own letters. There are usually around five letters that get passed back and forth. It is something that started as an idea to bridge the gap between alumni and current student-athletes as well as the current student-athletes and the community.
Left: Danielle Johnson // Right: Team and class converse
"It is always great knowing we have support from our alumni because they are our water polo family," said senior captain Emily Sejna. "It is great that Mary is wants to stay connected. She hosted a lot of the alumni who came back in the fall at her house."
When Dr. Marcelo Leonardi took over prior to last season, he embraced the pen pal program 100 percent even though it started before a year earlier.
"It is great to be able to give back to the educational system," said Leonardi. "We preach student-athletes so the best way to give back is to keep a connection with a local elementary school in Ann Arbor. And for Mary it keeps her involved with our program."
After exchanging letters, Chatigny brings her class to Canham Natatorium every year for a meet and greet. Burns Park Elementary is less than a mile away so the students walk over with Chatigny to watch the last hour of practice, tour the facility and then meet their pen pals.
"Marcelo and Caitlin (Haskell) have gone above and beyond to let me do this," said Chatigny. "Not every program is willing to open up their practice to 26 seven year olds. It can be distracting for the team and coaches, but for the kids it is something they might remember for a lifetime."
When the team receives the letters, Sejna will pass them out in the team room or locker room. Everyone will read their letter and then share with each other what their pen pal wrote.
"Mary is awesome thinking about creative topics for them to write about," said Sejna. "They have been talking about teamwork and leadership. There are a lot of hilarious things they write so we all laugh together when reading them out loud."
After Friday's practice was over, the team went up into the stands to meet their pen pals for the first time. The Michigan student-athletes had maize swimming caps with a blue block M for all the kids. Meanwhile, some of the kids had made valentines for their pen pals.
Left: Emily Sejna // Right: Amy Ridge
"It isn't about water polo or performing, it is about making connections with the community," said Leonardi. "Watching the little kids put on the latex swimming caps was special. You also get to see a lighter side of the team through these interactions."
"It is always great to meet them for the first time," said Sejna. "We probably intimidated them a little after they watched our practice, but it was very exciting for all the girls on our team."
In a few weeks, Chatigny is planning on bringing her class to the team's game against current No. 1 UCLA to experience what a high-level water polo game is like in person. Last year, her class attended Michigan's only home game, a 13-12 double-overtime victory over Indiana.
If it is anything like last year, the class from Burns Park will make a difference in the atmosphere, but ultimately it will be the pen pal program that makes a difference in the lives of the second-grade students and the Michigan water polo student-athletes.
"These kids make a bond with someone through literacy, and it is fantastic," said Chatigny.
