Contact:
Gwen O’Brien
Director of Media Relations
Saint Mary's College
(574)284-4579
April 24, 2008 (Notre Dame, Ind.)—Signed, sealed, and delivered. Saint Mary’s College students and fourth graders from the Warren Primary Center in South Bend have been exchanging letters for an entire semester and will finally meet face-to-face next week for a day of activities on campus.
The third annual Pen Pals Day will be held on May 2 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saint Mary’s students will greet their pen pals in Reinbeaux Lounge, off the west entrance of LeMans Hall, and then give them a tour of campus. They will then have lunch together in the West Wing of the Student Center at 11:15 a.m., followed by lawn games in front of the Student Center. The event will end with a reflection circle on the lawn where the fourth graders will reflect on their day. Before the Warren students leave, College students will give them stationary so they’ll continue writing to their pen pals during the summer.
The Pen Pals program is an effort by the college’s Office of Civic and Social Engagement (OCSE). “The Pen Pals program is a wonderful and innovative way of mentoring,” said Olivia Barzydlo, with OCSE’s College Academy of Tutoring (CAT) program. “It’s also a chance to expose the children to college at an early age and introduce them to the wonderful opportunities they have for education right here in South Bend.” 
In February, the Corporation for National and Community Service named Saint Mary’s College to the “President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll with Distinction” for exemplary service efforts and service to disadvantaged youth. This is the second highest award the federal organization gives schools. The College was recognized largely because of programs OCSE facilitates in Title 1 South Bend schools. These programs include English, reading, and mathematics tutoring; Teachers’ Assistants within the classrooms (including ENL skills building and Special Education); the Read-to-a-Child program; and the Pen Pals program.
About Saint Mary’s College:
Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Ind., is a four-year, Catholic, women’s institution offering five bachelor’s degrees and more than 30 major areas of study. Saint Mary’s College has six nationally accredited academic programs: social work, art, music, teacher education, chemistry and nursing. Founded in 1844, Saint Mary’s is a pioneer in the education of women, and is sponsored by the Sisters of the Holy Cross.
