TRiO students recognized for high achievement

Coastal Bend College TRiO Programs (Educational Talent Search, Student Support Services, Upward Bound and Upward Bound G.O.S.T)

celebrated TRiO Day on Feb. 5 at the Beeville campus.  TRiO Day is a nationwide annual celebration that recognizes the value of the federally-funded TRiO Programs and the successes of their students. 

 Dr. Thomas Baynum, President of Coastal Bend College, delivered a warm welcome and explained the value of an education. A TRiO Day proclamation was presented by Jimmy Martinez Jr., Mayor of Beeville. 230 students and staff members from Coastal Bend College and area high schools participated in workshops highlighting career opportunities and relevant student issues. 

 The TRiO Programs recognized outstanding student achievement by awarding one overall TRiO Achiever selected from the four programs.

 Amy Gonzales received the overall TRiO Achiever Award for 2009-2010. Gonzales, a former Coastal Bend College TRiO Student Support Services student, is a graduate of A.C. Jones High School and Coastal Bend College.  After completing her studies at CBC, she continued her education with the University of Houston-Victoria. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Houston-Victoria in December 2008. She is currently employed by Coastal Bend College and pursuing a Master’s degree in Adult Education Leadership and Guidance at Texas A&M University — Kingsville.

 Eight individual Achiever awards were given from TRiO Upward Bound, Upward Bound – G.O.S.T, Educational Talent Search, and Student Support Services.

 Louis Rodriguez, an Upward Bound participant, received a TRiO Achiever Award. Rodriguez is a senior at A.C. Jones High School and is planning to attend Texas Art Institution of Houston. He is pursuing a career in Visual Design.  He has been a participant in Upward Bound for four years.

 Juan Gonzalez, an Upward Bound participant, received a TRiO Achiever Award. Gonzalez is a senior at A.C. Jones High School and is planning to attend Coastal Bend College and major in psychology. He has been a participant in Upward Bound for four years.

 Jessica Banta, an Upward Bound G.O.S.T. participant, received a TRiO Achiever Award. Banta is a senior at Sinton High School and is planning to attend Schreiner University in Kerrville. She is pursuing a career as a pediatrician. She was one of the first students recruited into the Upward Bound G.O.S.T. program in December 2007.

 Kindred Luther, an Upward Bound G.O.S.T. participant, received a TRiO Achiever Award. Luther is a senior at Odem High School and is planning to attend Del Mar College in Corpus Christi, and then transfer to Texas State University in San Marcos. She is pursuing a career as an anesthesiologist. She has been a participant in Upward Bound G.O.S.T. for almost two years.

 Three Educational Talent Search participants received a TRiO Achiever Award. They are:  Frank Alvarez, Ana Ibarra and Patricia Parraz.

 Alvarez is a senior at George West High School and is planning to attend Baylor University.  He is pursuing a career in business and finance. He has been an Educational Talent Search participant for four years. 

 Ibarra, a senior at Odem High School, plans to attend Del Mar College. She is pursuing a career in nursing. She has been an Educational Talent Search participant for two years. 

 Parraz, a senior at Odem High School, plans to attend Texas A&M University of Texas — Kingsville. She is pursuing a career in education. She has been an Educational Talent Search participant for three years.

 Alan Briseno, a Student Support Services participant, received a TRiO Achiever Award. Briseno, a December 2009 graduate of Coastal Bend College, is planning to attend Texas A&M University –Corpus Christi. He will pursue a career in computer science.  He has been with Student Support Services for three years.

 Through the TRiO Programs, our nation has asserted a commitment to providing educational opportunities to all Americans regardless of race, ethnic background or economic circumstance. TRiO is a series of programs to help low-income and/or first generation Americans enter college, graduate, and move on to participate more fully in America’s economic and social life.

 The TRiO Student Support Services Program is designed to identify college students with academic potential from disadvantaged backgrounds. The program provides support to increase student retention, graduation and transfer rates.

 The TRiO Educational Talent Search Program assists economically disadvantaged and/or first generation college bound students.  CBC’s ETS Program serves high school students enrolled in Beeville, George West, Karnes City, Kenedy, Mathis, Odem, Pettus, Refugio, Runge, Skidmore-Tynan, Taft and Three Rivers; and middle/junior high school students in Mathis, Moreno, Pettus and Skidmore-Tynan.  The program provides academic, career and financial counseling to its participants and encourages them to graduate from high school and continue on to postsecondary institutions. Other services provided include assistance with college admissions, tutoring, college tours which aid students to succeed.

 TRiO Upward Bound is a college prep program designed to identify and assist high school students with academic potential, from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, who are low income and/or first generation CBC’s UB G.O.S.T. Program serves students enrolled at George West, Odem, Sinton and Taft schools.  The program develops students’ skills and motivation necessary to complete a program of secondary education and to enter and graduate from a program of postsecondary education by providing a number of services including academic instruction, career and financial counseling, six weeks summer residential program and work-study opportunities.

 Coastal Bend College TRiO staff personnel include Velma Elizalde, Dean of Student Services/TRiO Director; Amy Gonzales, Senior Office Specialist; Jeri Morton, SSS Project Director, Kayla Devora, SSS Counselor; Sylvia Lopez, SSS Secretary; Cheryl Gallagher, UB Counselor; Janice Fernandez, UB Secretary; Heather Anderson,UB G.O.S.T. Project Director; Dina Villegas, UB G.O.S.T. Secretary; Lupe Ganceres, ETS Project Director; Renee Brown, ETS Counselor; Celeste Ude, ETS Counselor and Mary Alice Rivera, ETS Tutor Coordinator/Secretary.

 For more information on the TRiO Programs, call (361) 354-2715. 

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