A new Lynchburg Beacon of Hope pen pal program is inspiring young learners to follow their dreams. Each month, students at Heritage and Perrymont elementary schools receive a letter from a college student who graduated from Lynchburg City Schools (LCS). In turn, the elementary schoolers write back with their questions about life after grade school.
The Promise Pals program pairs each participating LCS classroom with a college student. Over the course of the school year, the college students have formed meaningful relationships with their elementary school friends, who see them as role models.
“These students once sat in the same seats the elementary schoolers are in now. They’ve gone on to do amazing things and pursue their goals after high school,” said Lynchburg Beacon of Hope Director of K-12 Programs Dennis Coan. “Our little learners can envision themselves in their shoes one day. Promise Pals creates early awareness about the possibilities available to them in the future.”
Heritage and Perrymont students look forward to receiving letters all month long. Their Promise Pals share about their studies, career aspirations, and adventures outside of class.
“It feels exciting to hear how they’re doing and get their answers back to our letters. In the last one, ours said they got a new car. It was cool,” said Heritage Elementary student Jahlil Tyree.
These monthly exchanges are just as exciting for the college students as they are for the elementary schoolers. The Promise Pals have assumed their role as mentors with pride.
“I love knowing there are kids out there who are just as excited to receive my letters as I am to receive theirs. I’ve kept every single one of them in a box,” said Central Virginia Community College (CVCC) student Alisha Williams. “I like being able to encourage the students–especially the girls–who are interested in pursuing science. I love chemistry. It’s cool to be able to tell them about the classes I’m taking.”
Many Promise Pals even visited classrooms in person this winter, to the delight of their elementary school friends. For alumni, the visits were a walk down memory lane.
“I went to Heritage when I was younger. It was cool to see it again from a different perspective. I’m a little taller now,” said CVCC student Stephen Boswell.
Photo caption: CVCC students visit Heritage Elementary.
At Heritage Elementary, each second through fifth grade class is paired with a CVCC student. This spring, they enjoyed a special trip to the CVCC campus. Led by Promise Pals, the tour highlighted the many career pathways available to students, from STEM to culinary arts.
“The field trip was good. I liked the cooking part because when I’m older, I want to be a worker at Starbucks,” said Heritage Elementary student Randi Hammock.
Photo caption: Heritage Elementary students learn from CVCC staff about the career pathways available to them.
Beacon of Hope empowers LCS students to unlock their potential and achieve success after graduation through post-secondary education or training. Each Promise Pal is a recipient of Beacon of Hope’s Stay Close, Go Far scholarship, which helps fund LCS graduates’ education at CVCC, Centra College of Nursing, Liberty University, Longwood University, Randolph College, Sweet Briar College, or the University of Lynchburg.
“Beacon of Hope is a great organization. They’ve helped me with a lot: internships, jobs, and anything else I need. I don’t think many other school divisions have something like this,” said CVCC student Fay Mwai. “This scholarship is a great opportunity that allows me to go to college while still feeling financially secure.”
The Promise Pals program provides opportunities for Stay Close, Go Far scholarship recipients to make a positive impact on the next generation of learners in Lynchburg.
“We want to see our alumni get a great education or training, then come back and reinvest in Lynchburg,” Coan said. “Promise Pals is a way for our graduates to create connections with their community and give back to their city.”
CVCC students are planning another visit to Heritage Elementary before the school year ends. Through classroom visits, campus tours, and handwritten notes, the memories they’ve made will stick with both mentors and mentees for years to come.
