Melissa Peele
On Monday, February 18, 2002, various Michigan State University staff and students gathered with representatives of 11 other Michigan colleges to celebrate TRIO Day in the Big Ten Room B of the Kellogg Center.
A federally funded program created in the mid 1960s as part of President Johnson's War on Want, TRIO's mission is exemplified in its descriptive motto, “A3: Access, Assessment, and Achievement -- Providing Opportunity…Facilitating Success.” TRIO's seven programs include: Upward Bound, which aids high school students in preparing for higher education; Upward Bound Math and Science, which assists high school students in strengthening math, science and computer technology skills; Veterans Upward Bound, founded to provide intensive basic skills and remedial courses to military veterans in transition to postsecondary education; Talent Search, designed to serve young people in grades six through twelve; Student Support Services, which helps students stay in school until they earn their baccalaureate degrees; Ronald E. McNair Post-baccalaureate Achievement, which prepares students for doctoral studies; and, the Educational Opportunity Services, which serves displaced or underemployed workers. Currently, there are 2,400 active TRIO programs in the United States, serving almost 723,000 students nationwide. According to the event's program, its graduates work in fields as diverse as the clergy, entertainment, artistry, business, industry, government, medicine, law, education, communications, sales, finance, politics, transportation, publishing, law enforcement, computer science and technology, engineering and accounting.
Initially established in 1976 as a protest against federal budget cuts, TRIO Day is now an opportunity to honor both the program itself and those who have utilized it to achieve outstanding results. In his historical introduction, chairperson Patrick D. Smith summed up the day's purpose, announcing that it was, “A day to come together and celebrate our services and what they have meant to many of you.”
The day's events opened with a number of introductory speakers. Dr. Lee N. June, Assistant Provost for Academic Student Services and Multicultural Issues, extended a warm welcome on behalf of MSU to TRIO's representatives. According to Dr. June, TRIO deserves recognition for significant contributions to academic life at MSU, including widening the idea pipeline, increasing diversity, and improving scholastic retention and graduation through preparation.
Following Mr. Smith's historical overview and a review of the schedule, Dr. Pam Bellamy facilitated a legislative panel consisting of State Representative 68th District Virg Bernero, State Representative 67th District Paul DeWeese and U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow's representative, Sue Glynn. Remarking on the educational concerns of President Bush and their possible consequences, Dr. Bellamy invited each of the representatives to comment in turn. The representatives spoke about such topics as leadership, difficulties with the “zero tolerance” idea, America's approach to “troubled” children, inadequate health care and child protection. The panelists further discussed such issues as insufficient numbers of school counselors, economic inequality, implementation of mentoring programs and early education and choice versus unintentional racial and socioeconomic pigeonholing through earlier vocational assessment in the school systems. After the panel presentation, the general assembly broke into smaller subsections, comprised respectively of pre-college, McNair and college groups, for question and answer sessions with individual representatives.
At 12:45, TRIO Day's participants regathered for the seminar's luncheon and recognition program. Four TRIO achievers addressed the assembly and spoke of the TRIO program and its role in their successes. Each TRIO achiever received an award for substantial achievements in their respective fields. Other students from MSU, Grand Valley University, Central Michigan University, Hope College, Lansing Community College and Grand Rapids Community College also received recognition from TRIO for Outstanding Student Leadership as demonstrated through their contributions to academia, diversity and the larger community. In each case, the students' achievements were as diverse as the students were in their race, gender, accomplishments and dreams.
Overall, the TRIO Day program united award recipients and the audience in their pride for the TRIO program. Numerous individuals utilized TRIO services at Michigan schools and TRIO Day was an excellent way to recognize the successful participants of the TRIO Program.