KINGSTON, R.I. -- July 31, 2003 --In the aftermath of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968, a program for people of color and disadvantaged populations was established at the University of Rhode Island.

Called Special Programs for Talent Development, it was designed to recruit and support Rhode Island students who, without the support of the Talent Development Program, could not expect to attend college.

The first year of the program brought 42 students to the URI Kingston campus for a pre-matriculation program during the summer. Since that initial effort, TD, as it is affectionately called, has grown substantially in size and reputation. Today, there are 700 TD students on campus. Graduates of the highly successful program include professors, business executives, teachers, nurses, engineers, and more.

On Saturday, Aug. 16, some of those approximately 1,200 alumni will attend the 35th Talent Development Reunion at the Rhode Island Convocation Center in Providence. Tickets are $50 each. Anyone interested in attending the reunion should call the URI Alumni Relations Office at 874-2242