TRiO Day set for Feb. 24 in Beeville

• An estimated two million TRiO students have graduated from college nationwide.
• 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 will celebrate TRiO Day on Feb. 24 in Beeville.  TRiO Day is a nationwide annual celebration that recognizes the value of federally-funded TRiO Programs and the successes of their students. TRiO Programs are educational opportunity outreach programs designed to help students from low-income families where neither parent has graduated from college and/or first generation Americans enter college, graduate and move on to participate more fully in America’s economic and social life. The program also provides information on pre-college opportunities.

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

Through TRiO, our nation is committed to providing educational opportunities for all Americans regardless of race, creed, color, national origin, gender, age or disability. More than 2,900 TRiO projects currently serve more than 840,000 low-income Americans. Thirty-five percent of TRiO students are Whites, 35% are African-Americans, 19% are Hispanics, 4% are Native Americans, 3% are Asian-Americans, and 4% are listed as “Other,” including multiracial students. More than 7,000 students with disabilities and approximately 6,000 U.S. veterans are currently enrolled in TRiO programs as well.

TRiO Programs have been in existence at Coastal Bend College since the mid 1970s. There are Educational Talent Search programs in Alice and Beeville. There are two Upward Bound programs in Beeville and a Student Support Service program in Beeville. The SSS program addresses college retention for CBC students.

The Educational Talent Search Program in Beeville, with an annual award of $306,752, serves 671 students in grades nine through 12. Participating high schools are A.C. Jones (Beeville), George West, Karnes City, Kenedy, Mathis, Odem, Pettus, Refugio, Runge, Skidmore-Tynan, Taft and Three Rivers. In addition to counseling, participants receive information about college admissions requirements, scholarships and financial aid programs. This early intervention program helps students to better understand their educational opportunities and options. There are over 310,000 participants enrolled in 461 Educational Talent Search TRiO Programs.

Upward Bound, with an annual award of $371,643 helps 75 high school students in grades nine through 12 to prepare for higher education. Participating high schools are A.C. Jones (Beeville), Mathis, Odem, Pettus and Skidmore-Tynan.

Upward Bound G.O.S.T., with an annual award of $242,250, serves 50 students in grades nine through 12 at George West, Odem, Sinton and Taft High Schools. Participants receive instruction in composition and literature, mathematics, and science on college campuses after school, on Saturdays and during the summer. Currently, Upward Bound programs serve over 77,163 students throughout the United States.

Coastal Bend College TRiO staff include Velma Elizalde, Dean of Student Services; Cheryl Baird, Upward Bound Project Director; Keri DuBose, UB Counselor; Janice Fernandez, UB Secretary; April Zapata, UB G.O.S.T Academic Advisor; Dina Villegas, UB G.O.S.T Secretary; Lupe Ganceres, Educational Talent Search Project Director; Renee Brown ETS Counselor; Belinda Munoz,  ETS Counselor; Mary Alice Rivera, ETS Tutor Coordinator/Secretary.

For more information on TRiO Programs, call:

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

Upward Bound Program CBC:                      (361) 354-2715

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

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