Many students today are in or were in the TRiO program. Students and colleges have benefited from the work it has done, but not many know its beginnings.

TRiO’s mission is to make students successful and prepare them for the world by making sure they do well in college, and allowing them to get every opportunity they can to progress.

It started in 1964-1965 when the Federal Government enacted the Economic Opportunity Act . This act was meant to help reduce the impact of poverty at the time.

The government also implemented the Talent Search program, which identified people who were in poverty, but could succeed in a college community.

In 1968 Student Support Services, which was originally known as Special Services for Disadvantaged Students, was also given recognition by the higher education act. The Higher Education Act was designed to help people get financial aid for education despite of gender. Later, the term TRiO was coined to describe all of the federal education programs.

TRiO has grown considerably, and in 1972 a program added to TRiO allowed centers to be distributed around country. At that moment, TRiO began to take its current shape. Their goal was to helps students with applications and financial aid, to give counselling, and more.

Programs like the Upward Bound Math/Science program and the Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program were created to help with core subjects such as math and science.

In 2001, the program was amended to allow for grants. These grants would allow TRiO to receive funding as long as they held to the guidelines of the grant.

“Not only is it helping the way it’s supposed to, it’s helping more,” said Christina Satterla-Brewer, the TRiO Student Support Services program assistant.

Behind the scenes, staff that remains unseen to most college students are busy taking information about schools and spreading the information to keep their colleagues informed. They are watching the funds for the program to make sure everything goes well and that the students as well as their co workers have what they need.

TRiO’s lengthy history is a clear testament to their dedication to student success.