Carleton TRIO director Kim Hildahl co-chairs national Student Leadership Conference for 2025
The conference created a meaningful platform for students to build confidence, connect with peers, and prepare for success beyond college.
Kim Hildahl, director of TRIO/Student Support Services at Carleton, served as co-chair for the 2025 Educational Opportunity Association (EOA) Student Leadership Conference, held September 26–28 at the Mall of America (MOA). Designed for students from low-income, first-generation, and underrepresented backgrounds, the conference brought together more than 500 TRIO students and educators from across the country for a weekend focused on leadership development, STEM, and college and career preparation.
“This event began as a conversation with TRIO colleagues over 18 months ago,” Hildahl said. “We wanted to offer TRIO students a space where they could see themselves preparing for and pursuing educational and career paths they may not have previously considered. By connecting them with professionals who reflect their own identities and aspirations, we feel we were able to make a meaningful impact on their confidence, curiosity, and belief in what’s possible for their futures. Through thoughtful planning by the conference committee and dedicated volunteer organizers and presenters, we were proud of bringing this vision to life for low-income, first-generation students from across the country.”
Friday evening included pre-conference sessions at SEA LIFE Aquarium and an MOA STEM Tour. At SEA LIFE, students explored a behind-the-scenes view of aquarium operations and opportunities to explore career paths in marine biology, veterinary science, and aquarium management. The STEM tour gave insights into sustainability efforts and the engineering behind amusement park rides at Nickelodeon Universe.
Saturday was kicked off with an Opportunity Walk, a one-mile fun-walk around the mall that highlighted TRIO’s impact on college access. Participants took part in a TRIO trivia challenge and visited advocacy-focused activity stations that encouraged them to learn about federal policy and how to contact their members of congress to share their experiences and successes in TRIO programs. A notable highlight was the TRIO postcard writing station — run by Kevin Lattu, clinical case manager for Carleton Student Health and Counseling — where students took the time to address individual postcards to their congressional representatives. Staff gave out over 500 postcards to students.
Following the Opportunity Walk, conference attendees participated in interactive breakout sessions, including a medical school student panel, career readiness and leadership development workshops, and a college and graduate school fair designed for TRIO and TRIO-eligible students.
“This event gave me so much perspective on what I can do to advance my career,” one student said. “I am now interested in pursuing an MD-PhD, which wasn’t an opportunity I was even aware of before!”
Saturday evening brought students and staff together at Nickelodeon Universe for a private after-hours event, where conference attendees had the theme park all to themselves for a night of community building.
Sunday morning, attendees heard from two keynote speakers: Carleton TRIO alum and award-winning author Kao Kalia Yang ’03 and former Mall of America Senior Vice President Daniel Jasper. Their talks shared common themes of resilience, opportunity, and the importance of lifting student voices.
A career panel included professionals from the Minnesota Timberwolves, social media analysts from the Minnesota Aurora, Girls Dream Code founder Victoria Kyreme, and Carleton’s Associate Dean of Students Trey Williams. Panelists shared their educational and career journeys that highlighted the importance of mentorship, adaptability, and pursuing passions across unexpected paths. They offered practical advice on building professional networks, navigating challenges, and remaining open to opportunities beyond one’s original plans.
The EOA Student Leadership Conference created a meaningful platform for students to build confidence, connect with peers, and prepare for success beyond college.
Erica Helgerud ’20 is the news and social media manager for Carleton College.