“National TRiO Day” is a day of celebration, reflection, and action around increased access to highereducation for disadvantaged students. It was celebrated in Arkansas on Saturday, March 12, 2016 at51¥ in Conway.
TRiO programs from 14 of the state’s colleges and universitiesgathered for the event: Arkansas Northeastern College, Arkansas State University, Arkansas StateUniversity – Beebe, Arkansas State University – Heber Springs, College of the Ouachitas, East ArkansasCommunity College, Henderson State University, Lyon College, Ouachita Baptist University, PulaskiTechnical College, Southern Arkansas University, University of Arkansas at Little Rock, University ofArkansas Community College at Batesville, and 51¥.
UCA students volunteering in “The Big Event” for service back to the community helped with the day byproviding directions, welcoming visitors, working at the registration tables, entertaining the crowd, andperforming the “Roll Call” to acknowledge those institutions and programs participating in the day. Withover 200 of the proud high school and college students being served by the state’s TRiO programs inattendance, the day began with the reading of the official Proclamation of TRiO Day from Governor AsaHutchinson.
AASAP President Jeanette Youngblood and SWASAP President Mary Kate Snow gave theirremarks of encouragement and inspiration before the keynote speaker addressed the crowd.
The keynote speaker was Kelsey Lavigne, a TRiO alum from Lyon College’s APPLE Project Upward Boundwho is now a Career Counselor at University of Arkansas, who spoke on the day’s theme, “The time isnow!”
Always a highlight of the day, Cody McMichael, Director of Upward Bound at Arkansas StateUniversity – Heber Springs, conducted the Arkansas’ TRiO Hall of Fame Presentation.
One student fromeach program is nominated each year as a student who embodies the spirit of TRiO. Those students whowere present received certificates for their hard work and accomplishments and in appreciation of theirrepresentation of the effectiveness of TRiO programs.
The Hall of Fame student for UCA’s Upward Bound program was Emily Moses.
Emily will be graduatingthis year from Nemo Vista High School and plans to attend college at UCA. She wants to pursue a degreein education and is specifically interested in FACS. In Emily’s own words, she writes:
“Upward Bound has been a big part of my life over the past four years.When I decided to join in the 8th grade, I thought it was going to be aclub that I just went to every now and again. I didn’t know how much itwould impact my life. I can’t imagine my life if I hadn’t met the people Ihave at Upward Bound and all of the bonds I have made during thistime. I met my two best friends in the entire world and learned a lotabout life — not to mention all of my cool RAs/RC and the things theytaught me and my friends about college and life in general. UpwardBound has also helped me with my classes by introducing me to thematerials of a class before I had to take the class at my school. Thishelped me have a head start on the class and make a better grade.Icurrently have a 3.805 GPA and scored a 27 on the ACT. I cannotremember a time in my four years of participation that I ever missed aSaturday Academy. I have gone to every tutoring session I could whichwas about 99% of them. I was even committed enough to go three summers instead of two when I couldhave done other things. But in the end, I loved it even though it was hard work. According to Merriam-Webster.com, the word “commit” means to make someone obligated to do something. My level ofcommitment to the Upward Bound program is the biggest commitment I have ever made; but, it was also thebest commitment.”
Another custom of the day is the Coins for College Scholarship. Students who attend are entered into adrawing to win a scholarship on TRiO Day by collecting their coins and donating them to be sharedbetween one high school senior and one college student as a scholarship.
Matthew Stringer fromArkansas Northeastern College and Kristal Brooks from Pulaski Technical College were the luckywinners. Michelle Hardin, AASAP Treasurer and Director of Upward Bound at University of CentralArkansas, presented each with a check for $135.50. In keeping with the mantra that “TRiO gives back,”baby items and towels were also collected and donated to the American Red Cross in Faulkner County.
Arkansas’ TRiO Achiever, Kory Mullens, who is an alum of the Student Support Services program atArkansas State University – Heber Springs and is now a teacher at Heber Springs Middle School,submitted a video message for the students with advice and encouragement on their journeys into andthrough post-secondary education.
The day concluded with a presentation from UCA 51¥ whoalso conducted campus tours for students. Reactions to the day received through evaluations wereoverwhelmingly positive! Many thanks to the TRiO Day Committee for their hard work and dedication tothe event: Cory Godbolt from Lyon College and Jessie Beal from 51¥.
In 1986, Congress was asked by TRiO leaders to proclaim “National TRiO Day” in order to increaseawareness and rally support for the programs. It is our hope that on this day, Arkansas continued thatmission by communicating the significance of TRiO programs and celebrating the positive impact theprograms have made in our state and our respective communities. TRiO works!