North Central Missouri College’s TRIO programs proudly hosted its annual TRIO Days Celebration from February 19th to 22nd, honoring the remarkable achievements of the Federal TRIO programs and the students they support.
NCMC is home to three of the seven federally funded TRIO programs: Upward Bound (est. 1999), Student Support Services (est. 2001), and Talent Search (est. 2021). Established in 1964 through the Economic Opportunity Act and later expanded by the Higher Education Act, TRIO programs were the first national college access and retention initiatives designed to address the serious social and cultural barriers to education in America. These programs motivate and support students from low-income backgrounds, first-generation college students, military veterans, and students with disabilities. Through services like academic advising, tutoring, mentoring, and guidance on college admissions and financial aid, TRIO fosters college access, retention, and graduation. TRIO also provides individualized and intensive support to help students overcome obstacles as the first in their families to pursue and complete higher education.
Each February, NCMC’s Student Support Services (SSS) and Upward Bound (UB) programs come together to celebrate the federal TRIO grants with engaging events and community-building activities. This year’s theme, “TRIO Vision,” invited students, staff, faculty, and friends to participate in an interactive display in Geyer Hall. Participants shared their visions for the future and reflected on the emotions they expect to feel when achieving their goals. The UB program also hosted a panel discussion featuring SSS students, who shared their experiences transitioning to the college environment.
SSS further celebrated with vision board workshops and a special guest presentation by Janelle Golden, NCMC counselor, on “Visualizing the Best Version of Yourself.” Students were also encouraged to write letters to their legislators, sharing personal stories on how TRIO has impacted their college experience.
For more information on TRIO programs and their national reach, visit the national TRIO map..
Student Support Services is 100% funded by a grant of $306,511 per year from the U.S. Department of Education.
Upward Bound is 100% funded by a grant of $297,601 per year from the U.S. Department of Education.
Talent Search is 100% funded by a grant of $277,375 per year from the U.S. Department of Education.