VIP Director's Letter / Current News
Director's Letter
During the twenty year history of VIP, there have been many successes and challenges. As we look ahead we are now poised to undertake new initiatives to strengthen the academic quality of VIP as well as the continual outreach of the Program. As Tracy Kirby, VIP alumnus eloquently stated, "VIP and our other life experiences create in many of us a desire to give something back; to use out knowledge and experience to help others in earlier stages of life. Our soon-to-be 100 alumni collectively possess an amazing amount of knowledge. We have the potential to be a very strong network of professionals and quality people who can accomplish great things if we work together."
Collaboratively, the VIP staff with alums and community leaders have led the way to initiate changes in the VIP Program. In 2007 a VIP Advisory Board was formed. The members are Jack Curtin, Linda McCurdy, Sopheap Na, Dianne Sears and Nitosha Trujillo. These individuals have been instrumental in providing the VIP Program with new and creative directions as well as their continual participation at VIP events. Their hard work and commitment has ensured a successful 20th anniversary celebration.
In the coming months, the VIP staff continues to work diligently to enhance the visibility of the VIP Program in schools in the Metro Denver area as well as in the community. In summer 2009, the Office of Special Community Programs and VIP hosted the Denver Scholarship Foundation, Rising Senior Summer Workshop and the Goodwill Industries High School Camp. Both programs are designed to prepare students for college, which is a mission of VIP.
—Cathy Grieve
