TRIO began the school year with a plethora of Academic & Social/Cultural workshops covering a variety of topics as well as creating connections amongst the different class levels. Here are a couple of our workshops:
I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for a TRIO ICE CREAM SOCIAL!
By Esmeralda Garcia-Ramirez ’27

On September 20th, 2024, the end of the first week of classes, and all throughout campus, not a TRIO student was studying, not even the squirrels. Why? Because the TRIO/SSS hosted a TRIO Ice Cream Social celebrating the start of a new academic year with ice cream, popsicles, and tasty toppings. Many, many toppings! The Ice Cream Social allowed students of all class years a chance to reunite with one another after a long summer and talk about classes, goals, and strategies.

The music was on and the scoopers were out! Smiles and chatter filled the room as students reconnected with their TRIO advisors and discovered the array of ice cream flavors laid out on the table. More and more TRIO Students began trickling into the house greeting one another and meeting the new students! There was something for everyone to enjoy!

After making their own ice cream creations and singing along to the songs on the speakers, students relaxed and conversed with one another around the TRIO house. Students were discussing internships, externships, and jobs they took on during the summer. Other students exchanged information about their workload and advice on getting through the rest of the fall term. Everyone was eager to learn about the different resources available through TRIO and throughout campus. Thus, creating a cool yet warm environment for everyone.

TRIO’s first social event offered the opportunity to create new connections and friendships in the community. Students who had experience in classes provided reassurance and encouragement to students starting these courses. While other students expressed their ambition to start seeking Off-Campus Study Programs. In the end, it was these connections and, of course, the ice cream that brought our students back together for another great academic year.
TRIO partners with Paradigm Shift
By Alyssa Guzman ’27
On Saturday, October 12th, TRIO partnered with Paradigm Shift to host two wonderful workshops. These workshops focused on areas, such as leadership, authenticity, and boundaries. With the help of Paradigm Shift, Carleton TRIO students joined together to have fun and work on interdisciplinary skills that can be useful both here at Carleton and after graduation.

Legendary Larry, the lover of public speaking, started the morning with a leadership workshop. Getting comfortable with growth-mindset was Larry’s goal. TRIO students engaged in various activities. One tested memory: students performed handshakes with one another while trying to recall the one they just performed. Another activity relied on, what I would consider, pure luck. Eye contact is significant in the professional field, but here we needed to throw it out the window. The challenge here was to avoid eye contact: in the real world it might lead to greater access, but in this one, it took you out of the game. The exercises challenged our approach to interacting, and forced us to think creatively in social interaction.

The workshop helped students understand that being a leader isn’t just a trait you’re born with. Natural-born leaders have to work on how they can grow. Although we all might wish to get everything done perfectly, this isn’t the case most of the time. Our TRIO students learned that a leader does not have to be perfect. They’ve learned that leaders rely on collaboration, balance, and criticism to grow in all the best possible ways.
Leaders are found in every setting. So, for future and current leaders, I look forward to seeing you around.

TRIO Goes Green – Compost: From Dining Hall to Earthy Soil
By Heidi Mckim ’26
Have you ever thought about what happens to your discarded food after that little yellow tray disappears on the conveyor belt at the dining hall? On midterm break, October 21, 2024, TRIO had the opportunity to find out just that! TRIO staff and students began their morning with a presentation by Demetrius Blackmon from the sustainability office. From the presentation, TRIO learned about the ways in which Carleton is trying to be sustainable and how Carleton has cut its energy emissions from over 25k in 2008 to under 15k in 2023!

After the morning presentation and a lunch break, the TRIO staff and students departed for the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC) Organics Recycling Facility. First opened in 2011, the recycling facility now operates 24 acres of land, 20 of which are paved. They offer free compost drop-off programs for Scott County residents, and free pumpkin and Christmas tree drop-offs for the general public. The waste that is dropped off has to be inspected, and there has to be less than 5% of contamination per volume. If more than five glass bottles are found, the load is rejected and the individual or company that dropped it off has to collect it or pay for it to be removed, which is a very expensive fee.

For drop-offs that do pass inspection, the waste is grinded down and then put through a number of screenings. The waste is laid out into rows and turned over every 1-3 months, maintaining an internal temperature above 131°F. After it sits long enough and is successfully transformed into nutrient-dense soil, it is sold to the public.
TRIO’s visit to the SMSC Organics Recycling Facility allowed students to learn more about both the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community and the importance of properly sorting your waste so that it can be used and not discarded.
Graduate School Workshop
by Gloria Kossigan ’26
What are your plans after Carleton? On October 24th, Carleton TRIO collaborated with the St Olaf McNair program to offer a graduate school workshop tailored to TRIO students. The TRIO McNair Scholars Program is a preparatory program for graduate school, supported by the U.S. Department of Education and established in 1989. The graduate school workshop was ideal for any TRIO student seeking to pursue an advanced degree post-Carleton. In this workshop, students explored the steps of selecting and applying to graduate schools. The workshop was split into five sections: identifying the reasoning for pursuing graduate school, types of graduate school, readiness for graduate school, searching for and financing graduate programs, and the process of applying to graduate schools.

To commence, students reflected on their motivation behind considering graduate school. Some potential motivations discussed in this workshop included income potential, specialization in their area of interest, job opportunities, and additional growth. The facilitator also elaborated on the various types of graduate school. These include Master’s, Doctoral (Ph.D.), professional degrees (such as M.D., J.D., M.B.A., M.P.H., and others), and Post-Baccalaureate Certifications.
The facilitators, Janis Johnson and Melissa Melgar, emphasized the importance of academics, establishing connections with faculty to secure strong recommendations, engaging in research, employment, leadership opportunities, internships, exploring study abroad options, and/or participating in volunteer activities when prepping for graduate school. Furthermore, they encouraged visiting campuses and discussing career goals and graduate school interests with professors and advisers. When considering graduate school options, students were urged to weigh factors like various programs, geographical location, tuition costs, available financial aid, diversity, institution size, and faculty they wished to collaborate with. Typically, master’s and other professional degrees do not offer financial aid; however, students can access favorable loans, fellowship scholarships, and on-campus options. On the other hand, PhDs often come with funding opportunities, allowing students to be paid to learn.
Lastly, the presenters reviewed the submission process. When submitting applications for graduate school, all programs mandate the completion of applications and the submission of transcripts. More selective programs may necessitate standardized test scores, letters of recommendation, personal statements, interviews, and additional requirements. This workshop was an excellent opportunity for students to learn about graduate school or gain more resources for upperclassmen gearing up for this next step in the process of graduate school. TRIO SSS supplied the essential resources for the application process, which are available on the TRIO Moodle page.
First-Gen Student, Staff, & Faculty Dinner: You May be the First, but You Are Not Alone
by Alyssa Guzman ’27

On Thursday, November 7th, the Carleton TRIO program partnered with the 1GEN student organization to host the annual First-Gen Dinner in honor of National First Generation College Student Celebration Day. The dinner brought together first-generation students, faculty, and staff across campus. Every year, this dinner celebrates the first-generation community here on campus and helps validate and acknowledge the paths they are paving for the future as well as an opportunity for students to network with first-gen staff, faculty, and peers.
Catered by Bon Appetit, the attendees were able to dine while TRIO director Kim Hildahl introduced the TRIO staff and our new assistant director, Neil Winberg. Following introductions, President Byerly offered welcome remarks and Kim gave brief presentation on the history of TRIO programs in the United States and at Carleton. After learning about TRIO programs, we were hit with a TRIO trivia challenge, including a song listening quiz featuring first-generation artists, and then teams had to guess the names of actors by picture who were also first-generation college students.
Throughout all of these activities, first-generation students were able to connect with teachers who also identify as first-gen. At the end of the day, every attendee is aware of the struggles they face being a first-generation student. Gathering in a space where you have people of varying life stages to celebrate the paths they have taken and the ones they are making for themselves going forward was rewarding. Dean Livingston closed out the evening and reminded us that we are not alone on this journey and that we should carry on charting our path.
Comfort Food Friday
by Norman Colindrez ’25

Thanks to Dean Livingston, TRIO was able to bring in Thai food for Comfort Food Friday, creating a warm, home-like atmosphere for many of its students.

Music was blasting, students were laughing, and the vibes were vibing, so much – and the Thai food was a hit! Full bellies, combined with very lively conversations, made for a highly memorable gathering of people. Watching the coming together of the TRIO community, its growth, and the making of lifelong memories is what Comfort Food Friday is all about.