Coastal Bend College celebrates nationwide student success

  The TRiO Program hosted by Coastal Bend College will celebrate TRiO Day on Feb. 5 at the Coastal Bend College in Beeville. TRiO Day is a nationwide annual celebration that recognizes the value of the federally-funded TRiO Programs and the successes of their students.

 The event will start at at 9:30 a.m. and end at 1:30 p.m. Approximately 240 students and staff members from CBC and area high schools will participate in workshops highlighting career opportunities and other relevant student issues. 

 TRiO Programs are educational opportunity outreach programs designed to help students from families whose income is under $33,075 (for a family of four), where neither parent has graduated from college and/or the student will be a first-generation American college student to graduate and move on to participate more fully in America’s economic and social life. The program provides information on pre-college opportunities. 

 Through TRiO, our nation is committed to providing educational opportunities for all Americans regardless of race, creed, color, national origin, gender, age or disability. Over 2,700 TRiO Programs currently serve nearly 866,000 Americans across the United States.  Thirty-seven percent of TRiO students are White; 35 percent are African-American; 19 percent are Hispanic; four percent are Native American and four percent are Asian. There are 2,200 students with disabilities and more than 25,000 U.S. veterans currently enrolled in programs.

 TRiO has been in existence at Coastal Bend College since the mid-1970s.  There are two Educational Talent Search (ETS) programs; two Upward Bound (UB) programs and a Student Support Services (SSS) program.

 Educational Talent Search in Beeville, with an annual award of $306,752, serves 750 area students in grades six through 12. Participating schools are Beeville, George West, Karnes City, Kenedy, Mathis, Odem, Pettus, Refugio, Runge, Skidmore, Taft and Three Rivers. 

 Educational Talent Search in Alice, with an annual award of $220,000, serves 625 students in grades nine through 12 from Alice, Ben Bolt-Palito Blanco, Benavides, Falfurrias, Freer, Orange Grove, Premont and San Diego High Schools. In addition to counseling, participants receive information about college admissions requirements, scholarships and financial aid. This early-intervention program helps students to better understand their educational opportunities and options. Over 386,000 Americans are enrolled nationwide in 510 TRiO ETS programs.

Upward Bound, with an annual award of $383,533, helps 75 high school students prepare for higher education. Participating schools are Beeville, George West, Mathis, Odem, Pettus and Skidmore.

 Upward Bound G.O.S.T., with an annual award of $250,000, serves 50 students in grades nine and ten. Participating high school are George West, Odem, Sinton and Taft. Participants receive instruction in literature, composition, mathematics and science on college campuses after school, on Saturdays and during the summer. Currently 774 programs are in operation throughout the United States.

Student Support Services receives an annual award of $300,466.  The program provides services to 215 students at Coastal Bend College. Participants are assisted with staying in school and eventually earning their baccalaureate degrees. Participants receive tutoring, counseling, remedial instruction and numerous other services while enrolled at CBC.  Students are now being served at over 930 colleges and universities nationwide.

 TRiO Facts:

• An estimated two million TRiO students have graduated from college nationwide.
• TRiO Student Support Services participants have a 22 percent greater chance of entering their third year of college than similar students without the benefit of TRiO.
• Students who receive a full range of TRiO services (counseling, special courses, and tutoring) are twice as likely to be retained and continue their post-secondary education.    
• Upward Bound students are four times more likely to graduate from college than those students who do not participate in this program.

 Coastal Bend College TRiO staff include Velma Elizalde, Dean of Student Services; Amy Gonzales, Senior Office Specialist;  Jeri Morton, Student Support Services Project Director; Kayla Devora, SSS Counselor; Sylvia Lopez, SSS Secretary; Cheryl Gallagher, UB Counselor; Janice Fernandez, UB Secretary; Lupe Ganceres, Educational Talent Search Project Director; Renee Brown ETS Counselor; Celeste Ude, ETS Counselor; Mary Alice Rivera, ETS Tutor Coordinator/Secretary; Heather Anderson, Upward Bound G.O.S.T Project Director; Dina Villegas, UB G.O.S.T Secretary; Josie Schuenemann, Educational Talent Search Project Director (Alice Campus); Julie Enriques, ETS Counselor; Dee Dee Arismendez, ETS Tutor Coordinator/Secretary.

For more information on the TRiO Programs, call:

Educational Talent Search Program (Beeville): (361) 354-2706

Educational Talent Search Program (Alice): (361) 664-3081

Upward Bound Program: (361) 354-2715

Upward Bound G.O.S.T Program:  (361) 354-2746

Student Support Services:  (361) 354-2718

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