The students of Princeton Academy await K.C. Brau with a big banner.
Driver K.C. Brau’s truck.
Pen pals of 10 years, truck driver K.C. Brau and second grade teacher Caroline Walradt met for the first time in person on April 23.
The students line up to explore the trailer of K.C. Brau’s truck.
For 10 years, Princeton Academy teacher Caroline Walradt and her second grade students have been pen pals with truck driver K.C. Brau as part of Trucker Buddy International, a program that connects truckers with classrooms to enrich the education of children as well as teach them the importance of the trucking industry.
However, it wasn’t until April 23 that Walradt and Brau finally got to meet face-to-face for the first time during the decade in which they’ve been corresponding.
To mark the 10th anniversary of their partnership, a visit to Princeton Academy was arranged for Brau so he could spend the day with Walradt and her students. On April 23, Mr. Brau pulled up to the front drive of the school where he was greeted with cheers and claps. Faculty and students in the crowd held up a big banner that read “Welcome K.C. Brau Trucker Buddy.”
Walradt has been involved with the Trucker Buddy program for 12 years. After the first two truck driver pen pals didn’t work out, she was introduced to Brau and thus began their longtime friendship. Walradt’s students have received items such as postcards, letters, advice, geography facts and little gifts from Brau over the years. In turn, they write Brau about once a month, to which he always replies and answers any questions they might have.
During his visit, Brau gave the students a tour of his red semi and allowed them to explore the cab and trailer. After, he read a book and had pizza with the second graders. The students also received the opportunity to interview Brau about his life and career to write a newspaper article for a class assignment. However, for Walradt, the best part was when he first pulled up while honking his horn.
