Coconino Community College is celebrating National TRiO Day on Thursday, Feb. 28.
National TRiO Day is meant to focus the nation’s attention on the needs of disadvantaged young people and adults aspiring to improve their lives through higher education.
At CCC, the federally-funded TRiO program started in 2010 and has helped 239 students. Since the program started at CCC, student retention rates for CCC students who participate in the program are at about 76 percent compared to CCC’s overall student retention rate of 39 percent.
“We offer our students individualized academic support to help them navigate their CCC experience and help them persist in school, graduate and transfer to a four-year university,” said John Henneberg, CCC TRiO Student Support Services Director.
In 1986, the United States Congress designated Feb. 28 as National TRiO Day and that the achievements of the TRiO programs should be recognized. Locally, Arizona’s TRiO programs are hosting a fundraiser on Friday, March 1 at Buffalo Wild Wings, 2700 S Woodlands Village Blvd. #550, Flagstaff.
Buffalo Wild Wings is donating 10 percent of its sales from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. March 1 for a newly established Irvin Coin Scholarship Fund, which will award scholarships to Arizona students who are part of TRiO programs. TRiO programs statewide serve students who are first generation, low-income or have a disability. A ticket must be presented to the restaurant server. Tickets are available at the Lone Tree campus, 2800 S. Lone Tree Road at the Student Center Reception desk, the TRiO office- room 106, Financial Aid and Registration desks and at Security. Or email paula.pluta@coconino.edu to have it emailed to you.
CCC and Northern Arizona University both have TRiO Student Support Services (SSS) Programs. SSS programs help low income, first generation and/or disability students begin and stay in college. Participants receive tutoring, academic advising, and remedial instruction in order to achieve their goals of college completion.
“We want Coconino County residents to know that the TRiO program works,” Henneberg said. “We also want people to know that this program should be expanded to serve more first generation students from low income families across Coconino County.”
For millions of students from low-income families who strive to be the first in their families to attend and graduate from college, seven federally funded programs called TRiO are making a world of difference. Unlike student financial aid programs which help students overcome financial barriers to higher education, the TRiO programs have been providing valuable supportive services for over 40 years to students from poor and working families to help them successfully enter and graduate college.
TRiO services include: assistance in tutoring; personal and financial counseling; career counseling; workplace and college visits; assistance in applying for financial aid; and assistance in transferring to a four year university.