The 6th Annual National TRIO Day on Monday, Feb. 9, will be held at California State University, Fresno this year where 400 participants and program staff from throughout the Central Valley will celebrate the achievements of federally-funded TRIO programs the past 40 years.
The event is usually held at the State Capitol in Sacramento every year but is being hosted by Fresno State for the first time, said Nancy Rodriguez, chairperson for National TRIO Day and student services specialist for Fresno State’s ESL Upward Bound, one of the TRIO programs supported by the university.
She said the event, sponsored by the Central California Chapter of the Western Association of Educational Opportunity Personnel (WESTOP), will give local community members an opportunity to learn more about TRIO programs.
Middle, high school and college students and program staff are expected from TRIO programs at five CSUs: Bakersfield, Fresno State, Monterey, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and Stanislaus as well as Fresno City College, West Hills College, Modesto Junior College, Reedley College and UC Merced.
Congress created the TRIO programs in 1965 under the Higher Education Act to ensure an equal educational opportunity for all Americans regardless of their race, ethnic background or economic status, Rodriguez said.
Other TRIO programs offered at Fresno State are the Student Support Services Program, Educational Talent Search, Educational Opportunity Center and the Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program.
The event will be held at the Satellite Student Union from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. followed by workshops that will be conducted in various departments until 3:30 p.m.
For more information, call (559) 278-5796. More details to come.
Copy prepared by University Relations student intern Ravneet Padda.
