SWOCC release – Coos Bay, OR – Students from Southwestern Oregon Community College TRIO Talent Search and Upward Bound will participate in the 2020 National TRIO Day of Service on Saturday, February 22, 2020 to express appreciation to the community for its support of the TRIO programs. Middle- and high- school TRIO students will take part in a service learning project at Washed Ashore in Bandon as well as provide local outreach activities. TRIO middle- and high- school students from schools across Coos County will attend a private tour of the Washed Ashore Gallery and learn facts about marine debris. Students and TRIO staff will also participate in a workshop where they will sort debris and assist with sculpture projects. For millions of students from low-income families who strive to be the first in their families to attend and graduate from college, seven federally funded programs called TRIO are making a world of difference. Unlike student financial aid programs which help students overcome financial barriers to higher education, the TRIO programs have been providing valuable, supportive services to students from disadvantaged backgrounds to successfully enter college and graduate for over 50 years. Southwestern received its first TRIO grant in 1992 and today has four TRIO projects serving nearly 1300 families in Coos, Curry, and western Douglas counties. Students who participate in TRIO programs are twice as likely to enroll in and graduate from college than students from similar backgrounds who do not receive services. TRIO Talent Search and Upward Bound pre-college programs provide valuable services including: assistance in choosing a college, tutoring, personal and financial counseling, career counseling, assistance in applying to college, workplace and college visits, and assistance in applying for financial aid. TRIO Student Support Services at the college level is a connect-to-campus program for students that provides designated tutoring and study areas; personal, career, and academic advising; peer mentoring and tutoring; transfer assistance; campus visits to Oregon’s four-year schools; and cultural enrichment activities. Here are what TRIO students have to say about their TRIO experience: “I’ve been a part of TRIO since my 6th grade year. This program opened up so many career options and choices on where I would like to attend college. TRIO has helped me with my volunteer hours for Miss Coos County and helped me through my high school years.” Rylie Edwards, NBHS 2019 Senior and former Miss Coos County contestant “Talent search has been the driving force that allowed me to realize college isn’t just a dream. Being a part of talent search has made me see that college can be a reality, and it has continued to push me to follow what once were dreams of mine, knowing I can turn them into a reality.” Sierra Smith, MPHS 2019 Senior. Today more than 1,000 colleges, universities, and community agencies host more than 2,800 TRIO projects that serve more than 800,000 young people and adults. TRIO serves students of all racial and ethnic backgrounds. Currently, 34% of TRIO students are White, 33% are African-American, 21% are Hispanic, 4% are Asian-American or Pacific Islander, 4% are American Indian, and 1% are listed as “other,” including multiracial students. If you are a family with a student who could benefit from joining one of these TRIO programs, or know someone who would, please call 541-888-7223 or email sandra.james@socc.edu for more information.
