Groups program bridges past with future

By Susan Williams

bridge "Honoring the Bridge Builders. Preserving the Bridge." is the theme for the upcoming 30th anniversary of the Indiana University Bloomington Groups Student Support Services Program. Sponsored by Groups and the IU Alumni Association, former Groups students, their families, friends and other supporters are invited to join in a celebration planned for next fall's homecoming weekend, Oct. 16-18 in Bloomington.

"It's time to celebrate," said Janice Wiggins, director of the program. "These students have come and gone with little recognition and are making great contributions to the state and nation. The staff and I felt it was time to showcase their successes."

The "Bridge Builders" -- Rozelle Boyd and La Verta Terry -- will be honored as the program's first two directors, along with Groups 43 and Groups '69, the program's first two classes.

"Preserving the Bridge," or strengthening the program for the future, will be just one result of the weekend's activities.

Along with homecoming events, steps are planned to ensure the preservation of historical records and to enhance fund raising, alumni, and recruitment and retention efforts.

IU Bloomington's Groups Program was launched in 1968 with 43 students and now enrolls around 200 per year. More than 7,000 students have participated in the program, the oldest of the federally funded TRIO Programs located at public and private colleges and universities and technical schools throughout the state.