COLLEGE CHAMPIONS is a program that connects University of Pennsylvania student-athletes with classrooms in high-need schools in the Greater Philadelphia and Camden area to change mindsets and create lasting academic and life impact for at-risk students. In partnership with Classroom Champions—a 501(c)(3) non-profit education, social, and emotional skills organization—six Penn student-athletes were selected as Mentors in an innovative one-to many virtual mentorship program. The pilot program began on March 4, 2016.
Partnering with teachers in high-need schools, College Champions pairs Penn student-athletes with classrooms to teach goal setting, perseverance, and community involvement through video lessons, social media interactions, and mid and end of program in-person visits. For every College Champions video lesson, Student-Athlete Mentors provide their classrooms with a challenge. Teachers then implement the Student-Athlete Mentor’s lesson into their curriculum and provide students the opportunity to put their learning to work in the classroom. Group projects and activities are utilized and students learn virtually with their mentor.
The 2017-18 program worked with 25 teachers and approximately 631 students.
The 2017-18 Student-Athlete Mentors were:
- Matthew MacDonald —Basketball (Captain)
- Jackson Donahue—Basketball
- Taylor Cooper—Volleyball (Captain)
- Molly Minnig—Track & Field (Captain)
- Joe Olivia – Wrestling(Captain)
- Marc Mastropietro – Wrestling (Captain)
- Brian Krasowski—Wrestling
- Katherine Cromie—Lacrosse (Captain)
- Zack Digregorio—Sprint Football
- Molly Oretcky—Softball
- Samantha Pederson—Softball
- Christian Scafidi—Baseball
- Aaron Kim—Squash
- Sam Follensbee—Football
The 2016-17 program worked with 24 teachers and approximately 536 students.
The 2016-17 Student-Athlete Mentors were:
- Lauren D’Amore – Lacrosse
- Lainey Dorris – Softball
- Noah Kennedy White – Track & Field
- Chris Hatler – Track & Field
- Lauren Brunsdale – Track & Field
- Joe Olivia – Wrestling
- Marc Mastropietro – Wrestling
- Brooks Martino – Wrestling
- Matthew MacDonald – Basketball
- Taylor Cooper—Volleyball
- Katherine Cromie—Lacrosse
- Jackson Donahue—Basketball
The 2015-16 program worked with 17 teachers and approximately 370 students.
The 2015-16 Student-Athlete Mentors were:
- Lauren D’Amore – Women’s Lacrosse
- Lainey Dorris – Softball
- Noah Kennedy White – Track & Field
- Brooks Martino – Wrestling
- Sonja Latycheva – Women’s Tennis
- Matthew MacDonald – Men’s Basketball
