About Us

In 1972 and 1973 a select group of students from Chester, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh Pennsylvania said yes to the acceptance letter from Shippensburg State College. Not knowing at that time, this institution of higher education would be the foundation of a lasting friendship. Their greetings to each other was a simple finger pointing and a grand statement of YOU. YOU because you mattered, YOU because you had something special, YOU because your strength was easy to lean on and YOU because you treated each other as equals male and female. Hence the YOU Group was formed and today our friendship and support of each other has not missed a beat. Our career choices took us down different paths; as a college professor in Social Work education, a clinical psychologist, BIS Director (retired), United States Military veterans, human services field, medical support staff and Mental Health. 

Every two years the nine of us take a four-day retreat to just enjoy each other’s company. During our most recent retreat we talked about college life and how support from family, friends and personal guidance from others was crucial in our success. We decided to create an award for students currently enrolled at Shippensburg University who have completed at least 30 or more credit hours, The YOU Group Perseverance Award.