February 8, 2002 UNT Inhouse publications: UNT program participates in TRIO Day observance

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UNT program participates in TRIO Day observance

TRIO, a federal program directly responsible for making educational opportunities available to students from disadvantaged backgrounds, will honor its current UNT students and alumni during the National TRIO Day celebration Feb. 18.

TRIO logo The celebration will be from 3:30 to 5 p.m. in Highland Hall, in Room 110. TRIO alumni will speak briefly about the impact of TRIO upon their lives. This year's theme, "TRIO: Representing the Many Faces of America," reflects the contributions of TRIO alumni, whose professional endeavors include becoming doctors, lawyers, astronauts, reporters, actors, teachers and politicians.

Since 1980, more than 16,000 students have benefited from the TRIO program at UNT. Most of these students are the first in their families to attend college.

"Not only do students who participate in TRIO benefit from a post-secondary degree, but society as a whole is impacted by their contribution," says Consuelo Ballom, director of the TRIO Student Support Services Program at UNT. "Besides helping individual lives, the program fuels the local and national economies by helping to supply a qualified, diverse labor force."

TRIO includes several components focusing on a particular area or age group. These are Talent Search, Upward Bound, Upward Bound Math/Science, Veterans Upward Bound, Student Support Services, the Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Program and the Educational Opportunity Centers.

Participants will be offered a wide range of treats that represent different countries, from the American staple apple pie to Mexican sopapillas.

TRIO alumni who want to attend should contact Diane Bowman at (940) 565-2090 so their names can be added to the list of honored guests.