As a first-generation college graduate and TRIO adviser, Christina Stevens understands students’ challenges and helps connect them with resources for success.
The federal outreach program, TRIO, helps students who are low-income, disabled or first-generation students. Stevens and the rest of the TRIO staff celebrated students’ accomplishments last week for National TRIO Day.
“TRIO was here on campus when I was working on my undergrad studies, but I wasn’t aware of it,” Stevens said. “Now working in TRIO, I wish I had known about it as an undergrad cause it would have made my experience easier for me. I wouldn’t have struggled to find resources or have someone to ask questions that I didn’t know the answers to.”
Students who are or have gone through TRIO were able to get the resources and tools they needed to succeed in college.
As a former TRIO student and now an adviser, Cristianne EagleFeather loves giving back to the program that supported her when she first started at UNK.
“We’re doing this event because there is a National TRIO Day that is held each year,” EagleFeather said. “We are celebrating all the accomplishments that TRIO students have achieved over the past year and we are also recognizing all our TRIO students who are in good academic standing for the fall semester.”
From parents of students to alumni who were part of TRIO, many came together to celebrate members’ accomplishments.
Rashawn Harvey, the director of TRIO, said seeing students get recognized for their academic achievements while also celebrating the generous support students have received from TRIO makes the job worthwhile.
“It’s important to the campus community because we serve a high population of students here at the university,” Harvey said. “We help them navigate the higher academic system so they can earn their college degrees. So, every student who navigates higher education might have a different need. They could need help with additional support with course selection or coaching support.”
Students of TRIO, like Becca Zeleski, a senior majoring in organizational relations management, are grateful for the organization since it helped shape their lives.
Zeleski said that being a part of TRIO helped her to be the person she is today.
“TRIO is family to me,” Zeleski said. “It gives something for everyone. Everybody wants to help and everybody is inclusive.”
