K-grams brings penpals to visit campus, Stadium

By Carrie Thorson

Daily Staff Reporter

Friday was a banner day for 60 fifth-grade students from Henry Ford elementary school in Ypsilanti.

"K-Day," an event sponsored by the K-grams program, brought these students to the University to explore campus, see the Big House and get a taste of college life.

K-grams, which was established at the University three years ago, pairs up college students with elementary students in Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti and Detroit to exchange letters monthly.

"We really see the excitement we generate for college," said LSA junior Jenny Bess, a K-Day organizer.

The first thing the students visited was Michigan Stadium. As the students rushed off the bus toward the stadium Friday morning all that could be heard were choruses of "This is so big!" and "This is so cool!"

Engineering sophomore Elena Marin, K-grams director, began the day by leading the students in the fight song and "Go Blue" cheers.

"This is really cool because my daddy's seen a game here before but I haven't," said 5th grader Adam Tripp.

Football players Charles Drake, Tad VanPelt, Larry Stevens and Aaron Richards spoke to the 5th graders about their favorite memories of college and why it was "cool to go to school."

After their comments, 5th graders asked the athletes questions about life on and off the field.

"Does it hurt when you get tackled?" 5th grader Marissa Sanchez asked.

LSA junior Dina ElEssawi said although organizers worried about planning the event, it proved a success.

"We were really worried about all of the details of this event, but we have to remember that these kids are just so excited to be here. Some of them have never even been to Ann Arbor," she said.

Janet Warner, a 5th grade teacher at the school said the monthly letters have a positive influence on the students.

"It's like getting gold when the kids get letters. I've seen them save the letters in special places and work very hard to make their own letters perfect," Warner said.

Some kids who had never seen the University before said they thought college was one building, like their own school. Many of them were amazed not only by the size of college but everything it could offer them as well.

"The football players were a big motivation. These kids are like little sponges, soaking up everything they can from this trip," Warner said.

After touring the stadium, the 5th graders visited the Museum of Art and ate lunch in the Mary Markley dining hall before leaving.

"The kids really just had a great time and learned a lot, and that was the purpose of it," said LSA junior Ani Shehigian, a K-Day organizer.

"The teachers told us that this was one of the best field trips that the kids had ever been on," Marin said. "We all think the day was a huge success."