First-generation college students succeed with Groups Scholars: IU Kokomo : Indiana University

Note: This story was written by Leda Casey, Director of Year 1 Experiences, for the Summer 2024 issue. Legacy, the magazine for alumni and friends.

KOKOMO, Ind.— In spring 2023, a campuswide committee of equity advocates came together to create IU Kokomo’s Groups Scholars, a year-long cohort program that provides academic, financial, and social support to first-generation, low-income, and ethnically diverse college students. Participating students complete two summer courses—one general education course and one college navigation course—before fully entering their first fall semester. Participants receive their own laptop at the beginning of the program, providing access to important campus resources and technical support. Summer tuition is fully paid, and Groups students receive up to $500 for both fall and spring semesters. Most importantly, the summer experience provides plenty of time to build community with a caring group of faculty and staff who continue to meet with students and mentor them throughout their first year.

A dynamic group of 32 students from 12 area high schools were welcomed to our campus on June 27 to begin summer classes as the first group of IU Kokomo Groups Scholars. The students made the IU campus their summer home away from home. On campus, they attended three classes a week: Social Problems and Policies with Nicholas Baxter, assistant professor of sociology, or East-West Encounters in Music with Wendy Grice, music director. In addition, all students attended a First Year Seminar with Meg Galasso, assistant professor of librarianship, or Brandi Keith, assistant professor of sociology. The Groups Scholars staff also planned a variety of engaging in-class activities and several fun off-campus activities. The Groups students went to the National Powwow in Indianapolis and spent the following day exploring downtown Kokomo. Like many new college students, our Groups Scholars were nervous at first, but by the end of the summer session, they were brimming with confidence!

“I felt nervous and anxious when I started college because I didn’t know what my professors would be like” Alayna Coffy, a Groups Scholar, shared her thoughts. “I feel more at ease now because I know that professors are just people like us. My professors were really great and prepared me for what the college experience is like.”

The program doesn’t end with the start of fall classes. The Groups Scholars faculty and program directors, Leda Casey and Rosalyn Davis, assistant professor of clinical psychology, mentor the students throughout their first year, meeting regularly for lunch and coffee. The scholarship students also met monthly for various activities. The Murder Mystery game nights were a huge hit, as was the trip to Indiana University Bloomington to watch the football game and the homecoming festivities. Although the Hoosiers didn’t win, our IUK Groups Scholars had a great time cheering them on with other IU students.

The IUK Groups Scholars Program has been a huge success in its first year, with 28 scholarship recipients in the spring semester. The program not only helps students succeed academically, but also elevates them to leadership roles on campus. Almost all of our scholarship recipients have had a leadership moment this academic year! For example, Groups Scholar Diana Valencia of Logansport was accepted into our highly competitive nursing program. And Brooklyn Dill’s enthusiasm for IU Kokomo landed her a job as an admissions ambassador. Brooklyn moved to Kokomo from Arcadia to complete her degree in psychology.

This year’s First-Generation Celebration, held on November 6, was attended by many Groups Scholars, but scholarship recipient Victoria Miller from Peru shined at the ceremony as a panelist, alongside IUK alumna Gabriela Pearson-Mora.

Scholars Groups Recognized at This Year’s Chancellors Guild Dinner on April 18^. Participants met and had lunch with our fellows, as well as many of the faculty and staff who have supported the program throughout its first year. Participants heard from Meg Galasso and Nick Baxter, and a special keynote address from Briana Madrigal, a Groups fellow. Briana, from Walton, is working toward a Bachelor of Science in Business.

IU Kokomo is currently preparing to welcome its second cohort of Groups Scholars. Invitations to the 2024 Groups Scholars program have been sent to 48 high school seniors from 30 different Indiana high schools. The students first visited campus on April 27 for a special recruitment event to register for summer and fall classes.

This year we are delighted to welcome our IUK alumnus Brandon Wysong, Lecturer in Biology, to the Groups Scholars faculty team. Brandon will be teaching the Sustainability course alongside our returning faculty team of Nick Baxter, Meg Galasso and Brandi Keith.

“I’m excited to join the Groups Scholars program as a mentor this summer,” said Wysong. “As an IUK alumnus, I know firsthand that programs like Groups Scholars make a huge difference in a student’s academic experience. As a student, having a faculty mentor on campus—someone you can trust and know cares about you—can really provide a sense of community. I can’t wait to give my students the tools and confidence they need to have a successful first year.”

The IU Kokomo Groups Scholars program is growing and will surely impact more and more students each year. If you want to get involved in the magic and make the program more dynamic, please spread the word to your family, friends, and colleagues! You can learn more and share your knowledge by visiting the IU Kokomo Groups Scholars website. If you are interested in meeting with the scholarship recipients this summer, please email me.

-Leda Casey

Director of the Department for First-Year Studies/Professor of Geology

[email protected]