Fresno State’s TRIO programs will gather to celebrate National TRIO Day at the Speaker’s Platform on campus (near the entrance to the library) from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 23.
TRIO programs provide access to higher educational opportunities and resources for disadvantaged students. National TRIO Day has been celebrated across the U.S. since 1986, when Congress passed a resolution to commemorate the achievements of TRIO programs across the country.
There are nine federal TRIO programs nationwide, and while many universities house one or two TRIO programs on their campuses, Fresno State is home to seven TRIO programs: Upward Bound, Educational Talent Search, Student Support Services Program, Student Support Services – Veterans, Student Support Services – Disabilities, Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement and Central California Educational Opportunity Center.
Leading up to National TRIO Day, nearly 70 students from high schools across the Valley came to Fresno State on Feb. 17 for a Saturday Academy hosted by the Upward Bound program.
Upward Bound empowers high school students through tutoring, mentorship and intentional preparatory activities to overcome adversity and achieve academic and career aspirations. The program serves low-income and first-generation students, guiding them throughout their high school journey.
At the Saturday Academy, students participated in a workshop and also attended an Upward Bound alumni panel, in which three alumni shared about their educational journeys through Upward Bound and into college.
“[As an Upward Bound tutor], it was nice being able to connect and be a figure the students could talk to about college, being first-gen…it was nice being able to relate to each other,” said Christopher Gutierrez, a panelist who is in his final year at Fresno State. “That was a big takeaway for me when I was a student in the program — having a sense of community. It’s nice being able to create that same sense of community for other students.”
Gutierrez, who recently completed an internship at Disney World in Florida, first visited the Fresno State campus as an Upward Bound participant.
“I never thought about college in that way before and [the experience] made [higher education] feel so much more attainable,” he said. “Being in the program definitely gave me the confidence to pursue the internship and my master’s. I didn’t think I would make it this far, and [Upward Bound] definitely impacted my college experience and education in general, making me more comfortable to go out on my own, across the country.”
Students participating in Upward Bound’s recent Saturday Academy also got to attend a Fresno State baseball game and dedicated part of the day to writing letters to Congressmembers. The testimonial letters allowed students to share the ways in which Upward Bound helped connect them to resources and feel more confident in their aspirations.
One student shared, “I began building goals for myself because of Upward Bound. I no longer denied myself from opportunities. During my junior year, I applied to a study abroad program and received a scholarship to study in Tokyo, Japan. I felt empowered and determined. My community in Upward Bound is made of individuals who give me guidance, get me involved, and make me feel I can do anything despite my socioeconomic status.”
“Upward Bound and all of the other TRIO programs at Fresno State play a pivotal role in the development of students, from ninth grade through college,” said Dr. Kent Willis, vice president of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management at Fresno State. “These programs open doors for students across the Valley, allowing them to believe in themselves and their futures in ways that may have been unimaginable because of circumstances beyond their control. These programs give our students vital support and allow them to make positive changes for their families, in the community and beyond.”
For more information about Fresno State TRIO programs, visit https://studentaffairs.fresnostate.edu/studentsupport/index.html.
