The TRIO Program, aimed at providing academic, cultural and social support to students who come from low-income and/or first-generation college backgrounds, presented its annual awards April 28 in the Great Hall of Lopata House.
Siobhan Ganster was named 2004 TRIO Achiever, an award given to a student who has overcome many obstacles to excel in the areas of leadership, scholarship and community service.
Elizabeth Rolwing was named 2004 Outstanding TRIO Student, an award honoring someone who has taken advantage of a broad array of TRIO services and has been a mentor to other students in the program. Rolwing also won the TRIO Peer Mentor of the Year award.
Graduating TRIO seniors and other peer mentors also were recognized during the program.
TRIO is housed within the Center for Advanced Learning in the South 40’s Cornerstone and is directed by Robert H. Koff, Ph.D., director of the Educational Skills Initiative in the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Students.
More than 30 years ago, the U.S. Department of Education made a commitment to providing educational opportunities for all Americans regardless of race, ethnic background, or economic circumstances.
In support of this commitment, Congress established a series of programs to help students overcome academic, social, cultural and class barriers to higher education. These programs are referred to as TRIO (because initially only three programs were created).
TRIO programs target students who are first in their families to go to college, low-income by federal guidelines, have a learning, or physical disability, and/or are veterans.
Each academic year, approximately 10 percent of the University’s undergraduate student body is eligible for TRIO.
The Student Support Services’ TRIO Program has been at the University for more than 20 years.
Services are provided to all eligible students; however, each year the University targets to provide comprehensive services to 200 University TRIO-eligible undergraduates. TRIO also offers services to full-time students and entering freshmen enrolled in summer academic programs.
For more information regarding TRIO programs or eligibility, call 935-5970.
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