UND Today

University of North Dakota’s Official News Source

TRIO Day luncheon celebrates student success

Five-tier program gives prospective, current students the support they need to shine as leaders on way to earning degrees

More than 100 junior high and high school students from throughout the region, along with 150 more educators and parents, attended the recent TRIO Day luncheon at the University of North Dakota. Students from each of the five TRIO branches shared their personal success stories. The federal program is designed to provide extra motivation and support to give students a better chance of earning a college degree. Photo by Janelle Vonasek/UND Today

As a 17-year-old mother in high school, Whitney Miller had a lot on her plate. Not only was she devoted to the care of her young son, she had some big plans of her own.

Once diagnosed with reading and math disabilities — and later, attention deficit (hyperactivity) disorder — Miller said school never had come easy. Yet, she was determined to become the first college graduate in her family.

“I always knew I wanted to be a first-generation college student and overcome all the odds as a single mother,” Miller said. “I wanted to serve and empower individuals to be the best version of themselves.”

Five years later, she’s doing just that. In 2020, she earned her bachelor’s degree in social work from the University of North Dakota, and she’s now inspiring others as a social worker at Grand Forks Public Health.

She credits some of her success to hard work, and some to the one-on-one support she received through UND’s Educational Opportunity Center. The center is just one of five branches that fall under the umbrella of UND’s TRIO programs.

Miller and four other students recently shared their personal success stories at UND’s annual TRIO Day luncheon in the Memorial Union Ballroom.

More than 100 junior high and high school students from the region attended and listened, as did at least 150 parents and educators.

This year’s celebration of student achievements was even more special than usual because it marked the 50th birthday of the EOC and the 30th anniversary of the McNair Scholars Program at UND, said TRIO Director Derek Sporbert. Those programs — together with Upward Bound, Student Support Services and Educational Talent Search — make UND home to the longest continuously running TRIO programs in the country, Sporbert said.

Longtime TRIO leader Patrice Giese accepts the Pillar of TRIO award from TRIO Director Derek Sporbert. Giese, who retired in May after 40 years of service and leadership to TRIO’s Talent Search and McNair programs, was recognized for her exceptional relationship with both staff and faculty and her strong bond with students. She was known for her infectious enthusiasm, and students often called her their mentor, their rock and their parent away from home. Photo by Dennis Stangl/TRIO Technology Coordinator

What is TRIO?

It’s not an acronym. Rather, it refers to a number of federal programs (originally three, now eight) designed to increase access to higher education for economically disadvantaged students.

The federally funded programs give students from Pell-eligible, moderate-income families and/or first-generation college families — defined as families where neither parent has graduated from a four-year college — the motivation and support they need to earn a college degree. Depending on the program, sixth-graders through doctoral students are given a better chance to succeed in their education through academic advice, personal support and financial guidance.

“TRIO can make all the difference in the world for these students,” Sporbert said. “It’s so amazing to see them progressing. We’re not taking any credit for their successes, but we’re certainly excited and proud to play a role in that success.

“I can remember Whitney when she was confident, but scared, of what the next steps were going to be. She was just a 17-year-old kid trying to figure life out, but seeing the confidence she has talking out there now and the difference she’s making in other people’s lives, I’m just so proud of her. We get to see that, and it’s so rewarding.”

Sporbert said UND has five TRIO programs that serve as many as 3,200 students in North Dakota and Minnesota each year. It’s important to point out, he added, that TRIO’s pre-college programs do not recruit students specifically to UND.

“A lot of our students go to Northland, Lake Region or University of Minnesota-Crookston or MState,” Sporbert said. “Wherever they go is up to them. Our job is to sit down one on one with the student and the parents so we can give them all the information and resources they need to understand the whole college process and make the best decision for them.

“We help them fill out financial aid forms, visit college campuses, complete college applications and choose majors. Then, once they’re in school, we’re here to support them in any way we can.”

Joan Jorde (left), assistant director of TRIO/Student Support Services, presents Carolyn Keegan, verification tech at UND Student Finance, with the Friend of UND TRIO programs award at the recent TRIO Day luncheon. As the friendly go-to person, Keegan assists students and advisors in completing the next steps in receiving financial aid. Photo by Dennis Stangl/TRIO Technology Coordinator

And in the case of first-generation students, Sporbert explained, that sometimes can mean TRIO advisors serve in a somewhat parental role, fielding all the weird questions that can pop up for college students.

He rattles off scenarios: “I got selected for verification. I’m not getting along with my roommate. I’m running into financial problems. I was sick and missed a week of classes. What do I do?

“Our advisors help students answer those questions so they can solve their small problems before they become big problems.”

Longtime Grand Forks school counselor Marilyn Ripplinger agreed that TRIO can be an incredibly valuable resource for educators, students and parents. And she should know. She’s worked closely with the program for close to three decades — first, as a Grand Forks Red River High School counselor for 26 years, and for the past three years, as a counselor with Grand Forks Community High School.

“Think about it. If your parents haven’t been to college and you’re first-generation, the whole college process can seem so complicated and foreign,” Ripplinger said. “What TRIO does is provide all kinds of extra support to students and families. We’re side by side with them, going through everything together. We help students navigate the process and get to that next step, whether it’s a two- or four-year college. They help us show students that anything is possible.

“When you’ve never been exposed to something, you don’t know what you don’t know, right? And college — especially thinking about how do I pay for it — that can be very intimidating. TRIO supports us in our efforts to help them understand what it’s all about and how if there’s a will, there’s a way to get there.”

For Miller, she had the will. TRIO gave her the way.

“Attending college full time as a single mother posed many challenges, and it was not an easy path,” she said. “Most days were exhausting as I juggled the roles of both student and parent. But in four years, that hard work paid off. I beat the odds, achieved my goals and overcame many academic barriers with determination and the help of TRIO staff.”

So, what’s next for Miller? She says she’s not finished with her educational journey yet. She’s already applying for graduate school.

Author and motivational speaker Richard Taylor talks to pre-college students about mental health and the importance of recognizing opportunity by being present in the moment as part of the recent TRIO Day celebration on the UND campus. Photo by Dennis Stangl/TRIO Technology Coordinator

A closer look

UND’s five distinct TRIO programs help students progress from middle school through doctoral studies. A glimpse of each program is below, but more information about them is available on the UND website.

  • Upward Bound: The first of the TRIO programs at UND, it was established in 1966 to focus on improving high school students’ academic performance at target schools so the students could graduate from high school and continue on to earn a college degree.
  • Student Support Services: Originally called the Special Services Program grant, SSS was established in 1970 at UND. It helps eligible students make the transition from high school or other stages of life to college and supports them as they adjust to university-level academic expectations.
  • Educational Talent Search: This program was added to UND’s TRIO Programs in 1980. It provides help to pre-college students as young as sixth-graders who have academic potential but may lack the information and preparation needed to succeed in high school and college. Many services and opportunities are offered to help them reach that goal.
  • Educational Opportunity Center: This joined the mix in 1990. The program serves as a resource for individuals who want to earn a high school diploma/GED or pursue a college degree. Advisors work with low-income, first-generation students who show academic potential to help them ultimately enroll at a college of their choice.
  • McNair Scholars Program: Founded in honor of Ronald McNair, the renowned physicist and NASA astronaut who died in the 1986 Challenger Space Shuttle disaster, was the final program to join UND’s TRIO in 1992. The program encourages undergraduate students to prepare for graduate studies by providing opportunities to define goals, engage in research, form relationships with faculty and develop the skills vital to success at the doctoral level.