Assumption Football Team Wins 2025 Cornerstone Award for Community Service, Partners with Local Students for Big Brothers Big Sisters 

In December 2024, Assumption’s football team took part in a different kind of draft day – one where they were matched with students from Nelson Place Elementary School.  

Through a partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Mass & Metrowest, big brothers from the football team and little brothers from Nelson Place have been meeting up once a week for mentorship, conversations, and camaraderie.   

“Part of the students’ interest in having a big brother was so that they could learn to manage their feelings better, learn how to communicate with different people,” said head football coach Andy McKenzie. “These kids were making pretty important decisions about why they wanted a big brother – it wasn’t just to throw a football around.” 

McKenzie helped to establish the partnership, having worked with Big Brothers Big Sisters at a previous institution. He wanted to bring the partnership to Assumption to integrate service with student athletes’ education, inspiring them to grow through student mentorship. 

“College kids come from different backgrounds, sometimes affluent, and sometimes they don’t have a great perspective of what’s out there in the real world and how many young people need good role models and mentors,” said McKenzie. “Once they start to realize – hey, these students are really looking forward to meeting me, seeing me, talking to me about important things, and just having fun, our guys learn to appreciate their circumstances a little bit better by being a big brother.” 

Jamar Ballard ’27 and Jack O’Sullivan ’26 are two “Bigs” who have paired up with “Littles” this year, with both noting the importance of serving as positive role models in the lives of the young students. 

“As a football player, you’ve got eyes on you all the time,” Ballard said. “When you do things that positively impact young people, it sends a message – we’re role models, you can look up to us – and it lets kids know that they could be like us too and give back to their community.” 

“You never know what’s going on in their lives,” said O’Sullivan. “I know a lot of these kids might go through tough situations, so being a positive influence is probably my favorite part, letting them know that they can create their own goals and make their own way.” 

Both Ballard and O’Sullivan encourage other students to become Bigs, because even something as seemingly small as being there for the students when they need to talk can make a big difference in their lives. 

“I think people should just be kinder to each other. It’s nothing more than just showing up with a smile and making them laugh,” said O’Sullivan. “When I was ten, I used to look at my high school’s football team and think they were, like, the New England Patriots. To be able to be in this kid’s life, I’ve been in his shoes – I know that just me being with him is making his day as it is.”  

“I feel like it’s a duty to me to be able to teach them,” Ballard added. “Everyone should be open to doing this. To be able to talk with a kid, to get it, and to give them that time and attention – it’s a great experience. Who wouldn’t want to hang out with them? They’re the future.”  

The team was also awarded the 2025 Cornerstone Award for Community Service at the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Mass & Metrowest annual meeting in January, with McKenzie noting that they have twenty big brothers and counting participating from football. 

“We’re really excited to bring this partnership to campus and to make it a cornerstone of our service to the community,” said McKenzie. “I really think it’s an important part of the education of all students, not just our team, to serve the community. And this is one small way to give back big time.”