Princeton Athletes Pal Around with Elementary Students

Princeton students’ schedules are notoriously packed. But on any given weekday over the past year, you might have found varsity athletes at Johnson Park School, about two miles from campus, playing with Legos, folding paper airplanes, eating in the cafeteria, or running around outside. A new mentorship program, Tiger Pals, is pairing local second-through-fifth-graders who need extra attention with some of the University’s athletes.

More than 60 athletes representing a dozen varsity teams volunteer to spend an hour or two per month with their pals, either individually or in small groups. The 20 elementary pals in the program were selected for a variety of reasons such as needing help with confidence, homework, or school attendance; three sixth-graders who participated last academic year also continue to see their pals.

Fadima Tall ’27, an anthropology major on the women’s basketball team, said “it’s not easy” to find time to visit her pal, but “we all enjoy doing it. I don’t know a single person that isn’t happy visiting their kid.”

Tiger Pals kicked off in May 2024 with a pizza and cupcake party at Johnson Park for 12 young students and 25 Princeton athletes, and it quickly grew by word-of-mouth. The entire group gathers once a semester — in December there was a scavenger hunt on Princeton’s campus, and they were planning an awards ceremony for late April — but usually, the athletes coordinate directly with the elementary school to arrange visits on their own time.

“Pretty much any time that we’ve ever asked to come, [Johnson Park staff is] welcoming with open arms,” said Maile Organek ’26, a sociology major on the men’s heavyweight rowing team.

Every athlete PAW spoke with praised administrators for the easy logistics. For example, Princeton students are provided Lyft passes to get to and from the school.

Along with two of her teammates, softball player Abby Hornberger ’26, a School of Public and International Affairs major, has attended gym class and discussed sports with her pal, and they also talk about makeup and TikTok trends over lunch. In October, Hornberger attended the school’s Halloween parade.

“We’re not bending over backwards and doing these historic things, we’re just going and hanging out with her for an hour,” said Hornberger. “But to her, that means so much.”

For over a decade, Princeton athletes have visited local elementary schools, including Johnson Park, to read aloud as part of Reading with the Tigers. When Kristin Whitmore was hired by Johnson Park as school counselor last year, she began seeking additional opportunities. She connected with Melissa Stephens, assistant manager in athletics advancement at Princeton, who told her University students had been asking about mentorship opportunities, and Tiger Pals was born.

According to Whitmore, the Johnson Park staff has been very supportive because they’ve seen positive results: Elementary students with pals have become more excited to come to school, grown in confidence, and are taking on new leadership roles.

The Princeton athletes have also “really, really enjoyed it so far, and I think it’s honestly been just as impactful for them as it has been for the younger students,” said Stephens.

For hockey players Jayden Sison ’26, a SPIA major, and Kevin Anderson ’26, an economics major, one memory that stands out is when their two young pals, both hockey players themselves, attended a Princeton game. The second- and fifth-grade brothers came early to make signs and watch warm-ups from the bench, then toured the locker room and attended a post-game workout.

“When I look at [my pals], I can see how much they love hockey, and I remember when I was that age. So, it’s kind of nice just to give back to a little kid like that,” said Sison.

“They just light up, and that makes my day,” said Anderson.