Introducing the Marching Mizzou Student-Alumni Pen Pal Program!

Get ready to share your Marching Mizzou pride across generations! We’re thrilled to introduce the Marching Mizzou Student-Alumni Pen Pal Program, a fun and meaningful way to connect past and present members of M2. Whether you’re an alum eager to reminisce about game days at Faurot Field or a student looking for advice on making the most of your time in the band, this program is for you!

Why Join the M2 Pen Pal Program?

This initiative is all about fostering connections between students and alumni who share a love for Marching Mizzou. By joining, you’ll have the opportunity to:

✅ Swap stories about your favorite M2 and campus memories

✅ Share insights on student life, time management, and band experiences

✅ Connect with fellow Tigers who understand the passion and dedication it takes to be part of M2

✅ Meet your pen pal in person at Homecoming this September!

This program is a unique opportunity to bridge the gap between generations of Marching Mizzou members. Students will gain valuable perspectives from alumni who have walked in their shoes, while alumni get the chance to relive their M2 days and pass down traditions to the next generation.

A Special Story: Hannah & PJ

To give you a glimpse of the impact this program can have, meet Hannah Wehrman and PJ Blankenbaker. Hannah is the current tenor saxophone section leader in Marching Mizzou, while PJ played tenor sax and was one of the first women to join Marching Mizzou from 1958–1961.

“I joined Marching Mizzou as a freshman in the fall of 1958, the year women were first admitted to the marching band. Sixty-five years later in September 2023, I was privileged to join Marching Mizzou Band 138 as a guest for rehearsals and a football game. What a thrill it was for me to meet and visit with so many current band members. Never in my eighty-four years have I met a finer group of young people. 

Since my visit in 2023, I have corresponded with several of those band members, and what an enjoyable experience that has been! The students report on upcoming performances and band activities and send fantastic photos that give me a peek into what it's like to be a member of today’s Marching Mizzou. Corresponding with them has allowed me to experience again the thrill, satisfaction and pride one feels as part of the Marching Mizzou family.

When my spirits need a bit of a lift, I look no further than the photos of my Marching Mizzou kids. Their enthusiastic and smiling faces give me such hope for the future. What an incredible experience it has been to share in the lives and activities of these fantastic and talented young people. Thank you Marching Mizzou. You are the very best!” - PJ Blankenbaker, Tenor Saxophone

Photo by Nate Brown of PJ Blakenbaker meeting the M2 Tenor Saxophones in 2023

Sign Up Today!

Whether you’re a student eager to learn about Mizzou traditions “back in the day” or an alum ready to share your wisdom and love for M2, we invite you to sign up for this exciting program! Don’t miss out on this opportunity to build lifelong connections with fellow Tigers.

📅 Deadline to register: March 28

🔗 Alumni can sign up here!