In a year unlike any other, the scholars of the Theodore Roosevelt Honors Leadership Program (TRHLP) at Dickinson State University (DSU) worked harder than ever to continue to make an impact on the lives in their community. TR scholars were not able to host community events, like their escape room and in-person auction at the Homecoming tailgate, as normal. So, when the program was in need of fresh ideas during the fall 2020 semester, Logan Wagoner, a composite social science education major and one of three student assistant directors for the TRHLP, came up with something brilliant.
Wagoner suggested the scholars write letters of encouragement to the residents of St. Luke’s Home and Evergreen, two assisted living/nursing homes in Dickinson. The letters would help to bring a little joy into the lives of their residents, many of whom the scholars knew had a troubling year. Many assisted living facilities have had to restrict their residents’ movements as well as their number of visitors during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The semester was challenging from the start for TR scholars. With some students in isolation and some choosing to study remotely, the TRHLP leadership team innovated to meet the needs of their students. The monthly all-class meetings, which usually take place in Beck Auditorium in Klinefelter Hall on the DSU campus, were made available online so every student could continue to participate. During one all-class meeting mid-semester, the leadership team brought Wagoner’s idea forward and received an incredibly positive response. From there, many scholars jumped on board and the project quickly took shape.
Most of the letters were handwritten. For those scholars who weren’t able to drop handwritten letters off at the program’s headquarters on the third floor of May Hall, they submitted digital letters so they could still participate. The scholars crafted 10 letters each, which were then sealed and dropped off with individuals living in Dickinson. In total, about 150 letters were written and shared. It was finals week at the University when the letters arrived at the homes – just in time for the holidays!
A few scholars had the opportunity to see firsthand the impact their letters had on Dickinson residents. “We have a few scholars that actually work at those homes, and we got word back from them that if a resident needed help reading their letter they would help them,” said Alexa Delbridge, a practical nursing major and student assistant director for the TRHLP. “They got back to us in emails and said that [the residents] really appreciated this. They didn’t expect these whatsoever.”
The scholars had written return addresses on the envelopes in the hope they might receive a few letters back, but they couldn’t have expected the number of responses they got. Matt Meschke, an exercise science major and program scholar, took the initiative to write double the amount of letters requested of him and ended up receiving two personal letters back.
“It was just so cool and heartwarming to know that as much as we care about them, they care about us,” said Haylie Oberlander, an elementary education major and student assistant director for the program.
Despite the challenges they were facing personally, the scholars remained committed to their mission out of compassion for those experiencing greater hardship. “For a group of college students to want to do something like that honestly is really heartwarming and humbling,” said Delbridge. “It makes me proud to be a part of a program whose students care about those that can’t see their loved ones.”
