Educational opportunities are out there, but many students from low-income families don’t take advantage of them.
One program is trying to help solve the problem. The TRIO program’s mission is to help students learn about the options they have to pursue a higher education. On Feb. 11, Student Support Services held a banquet in the Union’s Parlor A to honor a few of its outstanding students.
Three U students received honors at the banquet: senior Joseph Montao, junior Toni Palmer and freshman Ann Doan. The TRIO program also honored high school students including Bryant Watson of West High School, Latu Paea of Kearns High School and Chuthima “Pat” Sukgul of Highland High School. Watson plans to attend the U, Paea plans to attend college in California and Sukgul plans to attend Salt Lake Community College.
Students from the TRIO program have gone off to become lawyers, business leaders, state legislators and other professionals.
The TRIO program began in 1965, when the U.S. Congress passed an education bill to assist low-income, first generation college students.
In Utah there are 26 TRIO programs at 10 public schools, private colleges and universities, according to Kathryn Felker, director of Student Support Services.
The TRIO program helps students overcome class, social, financial and cultural barriers to higher education, she said. The TRIO program consists of a wide range of racial and ethnic backgrounds.
Students who participate receive tutoring in literature, composition, mathematics and science on their college campuses every day after school. The program helps secure financial aid.
In the first year of the TRIO program, an estimated 2.2 millon students graduat ed from colleges with assistance and support from the federal program. Currently, 875,000 low income students receive assistance from the program.