Teenagers and retirees, parents and children, nervous freshmen and confident upperclassmen – all kinds of students call the TRIO office at Edmonds Community College home away from home.
“It doesn’t matter where you’re coming from or why – the people at TRIO want to help,” said EdCC graduate and single mom Kimberly Kennedy.
Kennedy knows. She’s been involved with EdCC’s Student Support Services ever since the college was awarded a four-year, $880,000 TRIO grant last fall. Federally funded TRIO programs reach out to students from disadvantaged backgrounds. TRIO isn’t an acronym – the name refers to three original federal programs designed to increase access to higher education for economically challenged individuals.
EdCC’s TRIO office targets low-income, disabled and first-generation college students. Financial aid, academic assistance and career coaching are all part of the program.
Now Kennedy, who was a TRIO student and peer tutor, has her sights set on a bachelor’s degree in education and a master’s in counseling psychology. She wants to become a school counselor.
Next up: Central Washington University. Fortunately, Kennedy won’t have to leave her friends at Student Support Services behind. She’ll attend CWU-Lynnwood at EdCC.
“They’re so supportive,” Kennedy said. “It’s nice to still be connected with everyone in the TRIO program.”
Program Project Director Heather McKnight and her staff help students get started at EdCC and work with them when they’re ready to transfer. But Student Support Services’ No. 1 concern is retention.
“We’re trying to keep our students in school,” McKnight said. “We know if they stick with it they’ll find success.”
For many TRIO students, staying the course is easier said than done. Keith Bigham recently returned to school. He’s had to re-learn study skills and re-adjust to classroom culture.
Bigham, who will be the first in his family to graduate from college, appreciates the individual attention he gets from Student Support Services.
“They’ve been wonderful with the resources they provide,” said Bigham, 48. “The one-on-one tutoring comes in handy for me. For math classes it’s a godsend – I’ve been out of school for 30 years.”
In 2005 Bigham began work on his GED. Now he’s taking college courses and his tentative plans include four-year college and a career in human services.
TRIO currently supports 120 students, but McKnight says there’s plenty of room for the program to grow. So let’s spread the word. Making it through college can be tough, but the people at TRIO want to help.
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