
As we wrap up another successful fall term, I’m excited to share some of TRIO’s many accomplishments! This fall, we welcomed 42 new first-year students to the program, who began their participation with us on move-in day. It has been wonderful getting to know this awesome cohort of students, and we are eager to support them as they navigate their academic and personal growth over the next four years.
During the fall term, TRIO hosted four workshops that covered a range of important topics from preparing for graduate school to developing authentic leadership skills. We also collaborated with the Student Engagement Series and SHAC to offer four financial literacy workshops that helped students gain skills on budgeting and health insurance that will serve them well beyond college.

In addition to academic and professional development, we prioritized creating spaces for connection and community. We held seven social and cultural events, including the TRIO Ice Cream Social, Comfort Food Friday, and a trip to the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community Organics Recycling Facility to learn about composting and sustainability. These events were designed to foster a sense of belonging and encourage students to engage with one another!

Our Peer Leaders played a crucial role in organizing four events this term, including two Fiesta Fridays and two study breaks. From playing Roblox to making slime, our Peer Leaders offered students fun ways to take a break from homework and make connections.
On the professional development front, our staff had the opportunity to travel to Minneapolis to attend the Educational Opportunity Association conference, where I had the privilege of serving as conference co-chair. It was a wonderful opportunity to learn about best practices in TRIO and stay up to date with the latest developments, including potential changes to the Department of Education. These experiences help ensure that our program remains at the forefront of providing high-quality support for our students (and be a bit silly, see the photo!).
Looking ahead, we’re thrilled to build upon the expansion of our TRIO program. In addition to our incoming first-year students, we recently admitted 26 (and counting!) new sophomores and juniors who will join us during Week One of winter term. This expansion marks an exciting chapter for our program, and we are eager to continue supporting even more students as they pursue their academic and personal goals.
As always, I am deeply grateful for the hard work and dedication of our TRIO team, Peer Leaders, and students. We are proud of all that we’ve accomplished this term, and we look forward to what’s to come next term!