Students to students

IU Student Foundation, known by most students as IUSF, can now proudly boast that it is the "Best Student Organization" on campus. For the first time in Best of Bloomington history, IUSF nabbed the title.\n"There was a pretty big push this year for votes," said senior Meera Jogani, one of the leaders of IUSF's development and communications committee.\nIUSF has approximately 350 members and consists of six subcommittees, with anywhere from 25 to 60 members per committee. IUSF President Tricia Runkel and Director Jenny Bruffey said they made announcements every week at committee meetings, encouraging members to vote IUSF the "Best Student Organization."\nLeaders of the group agreed that the Best of Bloomington contest is a way to publicize IUSF. Runkel said it is important for the organization to gain recognition.\n"The Student Foundation is tied to some of the long-standing traditions on campus," said Doug Davis, one of the leaders of IUSF's development and communications committee.\nThe group coordinates three main events each year: Little 500, Little 50 and IU Sing. Last year IU Sing brought in $4,800, which the organization gave away in scholarships, Runkel said. IUSF spends much of its time organizing Little 500. Planning Little 500 is "a year-round, 12-month process," Runkel said. \n"We have a lot of students involved, and we do a lot of great things on campus," Runkel said. "It was important (to win) because we touch the lives of so many students."\nIUSF sees Best of Bloomington as a way to promote IUSF and encourage membership. \n"It's one of those things that, if you're a part of this organization, it's such a life-changing experience," Bruffey said. "We want to portray that to others and get (them) to join."\nIn addition to planning the big events on campus, the group helps students in other ways. Jogani said she hopes that by having IUSF voted best student organization, students will realize that the organization does more than just plan Little 500. \nThrough a program named Career Connections, the organization tries to connect its members with event sponsors to help the students land jobs and internships, Runkel said. Runkel described the program as being similar to a job fair for the group's members. According to the IUSF Web site, participating companies for the 2007 Career Connections include major restaurant chains, food and beverage distributors and insurance companies.\nIUSF awards two $25,000 grants, one in the fall and one in the spring, to student organizations that show a need for the money for a philanthropic cause. The organization also awards more than $80,000 in scholarships to its members each year. IUSF also holds socials for members and plans alumni events. \n"It's what we give back to the students that makes us one of the best organizations," Davis said.