University of Denver student bridges generational gap with Englewood senior

Millie Van Schooneveld is 86. She lost her husband of 52 years two years ago. He died at 103. She sits in her assisted living unit at MorningStar in Englewood. A soccer match plays silently on the big screen above her. France is playing Morocco. It holds her attention.

Riley Tippit stops by to fill the silence.

Tippit is a 23-year-old University of Denver master’s student in social work. She is part of Perfect Pair. The nonprofit matches college students with older adults. The goal is bridging generational gaps. It targets social isolation. The condition often accompanies aging.

DU launched its Perfect Pair chapter in 2023. It was the first in Colorado. The national organization started in 2020. A second chapter launched recently at Colorado School of Mines. Tippit found her match with Van Schooneveld through surveys. They looked for common interests. Sports were the bridge.

“I always talk to my dad before I come here,” Tippit said. She settled into a chair beside Van Schooneveld. “He watches probably as many sports as you watch. He preps me and then you fill me in on all the details.”

Van Schooneveld has been quiet most of her life. She described herself as a loner. Interactions with new people are a struggle. The connection helps.

“I’ve always been this way,” Van Schooneveld said. “Really quiet and to the side. I can’t tell you why, but it’s been that way all my life. I’ve always been more of a loner, so this has been good for me.”

Her husband, William, was a retired Marine. He ran an accounting business in the same Englewood building where she worked at a bank. They connected when she was a single mom of two. He was older. He covered her child support issues. “Just forget it. We don’t need him. I will take care of the kids,” he said.

They golfed together. A lot. He could no longer stand up eventually. At 86, Van Schooneveld still watches the game. A televised tournament carries her through a weekend. Football is a staple. Now, soccer. She pulls a purple blanket over her legs. Her walker is within reach.

Tippit came prepared. She had a craft activity in mind. She absorbed a quick sports tutorial. The visit is recurring. It belongs to a larger series.

The Colorado Sun reported the details. Kevin Simpson took the photo. It shows Tippit visiting Van Schooneveld at MorningStar at Observatory Park. The caption notes the volunteer status and the nonprofit’s mission.

Colorado is aging rapidly. Social isolation is the counter-force. Perfect Pair offers an antidote. It is not just about entertainment. It is about connection. Van Schooneveld has family visits. She has activities. But there are gaps. Tippit fills one.

The program relies on matching. Surveys determine compatibility. Common interests foster connection. Sports provided the entry point here. It allowed Tippit to prep with her own father. It gave her a script. It gave Van Schooneveld a listener.

The DU chapter started in 2023. It is expanding. Colorado School of Mines joined recently. The model works. It connects two demographics that often exist in parallel. They rarely intersect. This program forces the intersection.

Van Schooneveld is comfortable. She is settled. But she is still lonely at times. The soccer match is silent. The company is not. That distinction matters. The program provides the company. The match provides the distraction.

Tippit is studying social work. This is practical experience. It is also service. It builds community. It happens in Englewood. It happens in Denver. It is part of a nationwide effort.

The short version: Colorado’s elderly are isolated. Students are visiting. The gap is narrowing, one visit at a time.