Groups Scholars Graduates 240 in May!

There is no doubt the 2020-2021 academic year created unparalleled difficulties for students. Despite the various challenges brought on by the pandemic the Groups Scholars continue to show amazing resiliency. This was evidenced by the 240 Groups Scholars that graduated this May. All of us in the Groups Alumni Association are very proud of these graduates!

Groups Scholars Alumni Association Seeks New President and Vice President

After two years of service, GAA Board President, Angela Smith, and Vice President, Hannah Jones, are stepping down from their executive positions. This means GAA is looking for it's next leaders. To nominate yourself or another for the role of GAA President of Vice President, visit this link for consideration. Nominations are due by June 21, 2021.

Groups Scholars Alumni Technology Drive Raises over $13,000

With the help of over 100 generous alumni and friends, the Groups Scholars Alumni Association was able to raise $13,091 to help high financial need students in the Groups Scholars Program obtain the technology needed to support their academic success efforts.

Student and Alumni Updates

Groups Alumnus Michael K. Blanchard Gains Attention for Book

Release

Michael K. Blanchard (Groups ’84) was recently featured in the South Bend Tribune to showcase the release of his book, The Black Book of Lamentations. The book is a collection of quotations from Black scholars and grassroots activists that Blanchard has read over the years. He notes, “Quotations are often the seeds of ah-ha moments that literally change the course of a person's life…I hope that you will be inspired and informed by the multitudinous quotations that occupy this book's pages. See yourself as an instrument of change and not a victim of oppression. Act as if these great thinkers' words were spoken with you in mind; because they were.”

The Black Book of Lamentations is available for purchase on Amazon.

Blanchard, who earned his bachelor’s in Sociology from IU and an EdD from University of New England, has also published another book: A Community Research Guide to Student Persistence: Research-based Strategies to Improve Student Persistence.

“I wrote and published this book to provide a blueprint for student persistence, student success and personal development that was based on research data that extrapolated the community support and resources students needed to show educational growth and persist to graduation,” says Blanchard. He continues, “wraparound services are any resources or activity an organization or individual provides to assist a student to persist to graduation, professionally develop, or grow academically. Some examples of these resources are tutoring, food assistance, professional development, mentoring/coaching, life skills, financial assistance, and socialization skills. I know investing in wraparound services works because I’ve experienced them working in programs like the Police Athletic League, Job Corps, community college wraparound services, and by K-12 educators in our classrooms.”

Blanchard, who has spent time on the police force, in classrooms, and as a scholar, attributes both his professional interest in wraparound services and his own success to participating in the Groups program in 1984. “Without the groups program I could not have become Dr. Michael K. Blanchard!”

Looking toward the future, Michael hopes his books will be integrated into DEI and Black Studies curricula, as well as first-year experience programs including Groups. He says, “I would love to be the poster guy for promoting the value of IU Groups’ wraparound services.”

Michael Blanchard can be reached at mkblanch35@aol.com.

If you have news that you would like to share with the Groups Scholars Alumni Association please let us know! Send us an email at gspaa@alumni.iu.edu.

Vote for IU’s Future

Graduates of IU have the unique privilege of electing one member of the IU Board of Trustees each year. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 trustee election was canceled. Therefore, two alumni-elected trustees will be chosen in 2021. The candidate with the highest number of votes will serve the standard three-year term. The candidate with the next highest number of votes will serve an abbreviated two-year term.

IU’s trustees are responsible for vital tasks that shape IU’s future, such as managing a multibillion-dollar budget, coordinating construction projects, and selecting IU’s president. That’s why your vote is so important.

If you’re an IU graduate, please take a few minutes to visit TrusteeElection.iu.edu, meet the candidates, and cast your vote. Voting opens June 1 and closes at 10 a.m. ET on June 30.

It’s a simple way to be a part of something that is integral to our alma mater’s future.

Special Thanks to the GAA Career Development Team!

The Groups Alumni Association Career Development Team produced a very valuable webinar entitled The Next Stage: Life After IU, where they discussed challenges, lessons learned, and strategies to be successful after college. The discussion was Moderated by Groups Alum, Mike House (G'00), with panelists Sharon Polk (G'90), Leonard Swedarsky, Jr. (G'00) and David Macon (G'08).  

If you missed this fantastic webinar, you can still view a recording of the event here.

Connect with Us (and Each Other!) on LinkedIn

The Groups Scholars Program is on LinkedIn! Connect with Groups on LinkedIn to stay in the know about career and professional development opportunities.

The Groups Scholars Program now has their own LinkedIn page here -- connect with the Groups Scholars program today!

There's also a new group for alumni, students, and friends of the Groups program to connect with one another. As an alumnus, we encourage you to post in this group if you:

Join the LinkedIn group here and get engaged today!

IU Alumni Association Now Offers Three Membership Options

The IU Alumni Association now offers three tiers of membership options to Hoosier alumni.

IU Proud membership is free, and includes access to an IU alumni Gmail account, career coaching savings, a digital subscription to the Indiana University Alumni maganize, and opportunities to participate in the Virtual Alumni Community.

IU Loyal membership is a one-year paid membership. In addition to the core services provided by IU Proud, IU Loyal members enjoy a printed copy of Indiana University Alumni magazine 4x yearly, scholarship opportunities for dependents, access to academic journals, and priority points that can be used towards football and basketball season tickets.

IU Life membership is a permanent, paid membership for those who contribute $1,000. It is designed for those that want to influence the future of IUAA and Indiana University.

Find your perfect fit with IUAA today!