SWOCC release – COOS BAY, OR – The Oregon TRIO Association (OTA) is proud to announce the receipt of a $6,000 grant from the Coquille Tribal Fund. This generous award will support OTA’s mission to provide resources and support for low-income students in the Southwestern Oregon area who are pursuing postsecondary education. In today’s educational landscape, access to technology is paramount for academic success. Many students from disadvantaged communities face barriers to accessing essential resources like computers, laptops, tablets, and high-speed internet connectivity. The grant from the Coquille Tribal Fund will enable OTA to bridge this digital divide and ensure that these students have the necessary tools to thrive in their academic pursuits. “We are grateful to the Coquille Tribe for their generosity and support of our pre-college TRIO students. As potential first-generation college students, our high school TRIO scholars have overcome many obstacles and worked very hard. They are grateful for the community support and are so thankful to the Coquille Tribe for enabling them to enter college next fall with a laptop.” – DeAnne Varitek, Southwestern Oregon Community College’s Director of TRIO, Upward Bound, and Educational Talent Search. “Our project aims to address the critical need for technology access among low-income students in Southwestern Oregon,” said Matt Bisek, Executive Director of the Oregon TRIO Association. “This generous grant from the Coquille Tribal Fund will allow us to provide computers, laptops, tablets, and internet connectivity to students in need, empowering them to access online learning platforms, research materials, and educational software.” The project targets households in the American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) community, where access to affordable broadband and essential resources like computers is often limited. According to the 2020 Census, a significant number of households in Oregon lack access to computers or internet connectivity, further exacerbating educational disparities. “There are 140+ AI/AN TRIO students in the Coquille Tribal Fund target area that OTA can reach,” added Bisek. “This grant will make a tangible difference in the lives of these students, providing them with the resources and support they need to succeed academically.” OTA’s project addresses the immediate need for technology access and contributes to long-term economic development and educational equity in the Southwestern Oregon area. By providing students with the tools they need to excel in their studies, OTA is helping to create a more inclusive and equitable educational landscape for all students. For more information about the TRIO Talent Search program at Southwestern Oregon Community College, please visit our webpage. (www.socc.edu/resources/trio-programs). If you or your organization is interested in supporting our TRIO programs with a donation you can do so at: https://www.socc.edu/give. Please label your donation “TRIO Pre-College”.
