TRiO National Day of Service is Feb. 18

Students and graduates from Educational Opportunity Center, Student Support Services, Upward Bound and Educational Talent Search will participate in TRiO National Day of Service on Friday, Feb. 18, 2011, as a way to show appreciation to their community, and as a thank you to the community for its support for our TRiO programs. Approximately five million students have participated in TRiO. TRiO students come from first generation low-income families who have college potential successfully enter post secondary education.TRiO assists in the success of students. These seven federally funded programs called "TRiO" are making a world of difference every day nationwide.

There are many student financial aid programs that help students to overcome financial barriers to higher education. TRiO Programs at UAA (Educational Talent Search, Upward Bound, Upward Bound Math/Science, Veterans Upward Bound, Student Support Services, Educational Opportunity Centers and the Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Program) have provided and are providing valuable supportive services.



The University of Alaska Anchorage opened its doors to TRiO in the early 1970s. Today, there are four TRiO programs serving students from middle school through college. These programs annually help the students of Alaska realize their dreams of acquiring a college education.



According to Dr. Arnold Mitchem, president of the Council for Opportunity in Education, an education association that represents TRiO students, college graduates, counselors and teachers nationwide, "These programs work because they are student-centered, performance-based and non-bureaucratic."



Today more than 1,200 colleges, universities and community agencies host more than 2,900 TRiO Programs serving 850,000 young people and adults. Twenty-two thousand TRiO students are disabled.

TRiO services include, assistance in choosing a college; tutoring; personal and financial counseling; career counseling; assistance in applying to college; workplace and college visits; special instruction in reading, writing, study skills and mathematics; assistance in applying for financial aid; and academic assistance in high school or assistance to re-enter high school.



According to Odila D. Rueda, former regional president of The Northwest Association of Special Programs, it is because of TRiO we can say, "When we educate one individual, we educate generations to come."



For more information, contact Dr. Kim Patterson at (907) 786-6709.