National TRIO Day

Dr. G. W. Mingo, Director, Upward Bound Program
Dr. Dovie Gamble, Director, Ronald E. McNair Program

On February 24, 2001, some Americans will celebrate National TRIO Day. Unlike the Fourth of July there won’t be any huge parades. It might not even be mentioned on the local news and state and federal offices won’t close because of it. So you might ask, what’s the big deal? What does it mean to me?

TRIO refers to six programs funded by the U.S. Department of Education under the Special Program subpart: Educational Opportunity Centers, the Ronald McNair Post-baccalaureate Achievement Program, Student Support Services, Talent Search, Upward Bound and a training program for TRIO staff. TRIO services are focused on students from families whose incomes fall below 150% of the poverty level where neither parent has graduated from college. Two of the six TRIO Programs are on our campus, Ronald McNair and Upward Bound.

Understanding what National TRIO Day means, or perhaps addressing the more important questions, what is TRIO, is a start toward understanding the philosophy and goal of the Ronald McNair and Upward Bound Programs. The TRIO Programs assume that the least advantaged students should have the same opportunity as the most advantaged student. All students should have the opportunity to go to college and to complete his or her course of study. One method to further this goal is through the efforts of federally funded intervention programs like the Ronald McNair and Upward Bound Programs.

Academic programs like Ronald McNair and Upward Bound, along with student financial assistance programs, facilitate students in improving their social status and increasing their earnings. National TRIO Day, therefore, is an affirmation of the ideology and a demonstration of the practical achievement of this point of view. Thus, if assisting students to maximize their potential is important to you, then making others aware of our conviction and work also should have value. What we will be celebrating on Saturday, February 24, 2001, will not only symbolize the power and importance of our work, but it will also dramatize the vision and commitment of the professional community in which we live.

Help us celebrate National TRIO Day on Saturday, February 24, 2001 at 12:30 PM in front of Tigert Hall. A group picture will be taken and refreshments will also be served.