Washington State University Pullman senior Tammy Ha was sitting in a psychology class when a classmate suggested she check out the TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) Program because it has great advising, valuable resources, and priority registration to boot.
“I like to tell people that to find success you need to step out of your comfort zone, and that’s what I did when I joined SSS,” Ha said. “I’m glad I gave it a try because it has supported me a lot.”
TRIO programs are federally funded outreach and student support programs designed to assist low-income students, first-generation students, veterans, and students with disabilities. WSU has 17 TRIO programs across four campuses that serve a combined 2,295 students each year and have a combined annual budget of over $5 million. In addition to SSS, WSU TRIO programs include Talent Search, Upward Bound, Upward Bound Match Science, and the Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program.
Events highlight ‘transformative power of TRIO’
WSU Pullman is celebrating TRIO’s 60 years of supporting students nationwide, and 26 years on the Pullman campus, with a series of events this month.
McNair Scholars, which helps prepare undergraduate students for graduate school, will host a virtual alumni panel discussion on Tuesday, Feb. 18, from 12–1 p.m. Alums (and twin sisters) Annette Perales Notturno, a faculty member at City University of Seattle, and Jeanette Perales, a licensed mental health counselor, will talk about their experiences in TRIO Upward Bound during high school, TRIO SSS in community college, and McNair Scholars at WSU. Everyone is invited to an in-person watch party in Lighty 260W.
“We are incredibly proud to celebrate their achievements,” said Raymond Herrera, associate vice provost of the WSU Graduate School and McNair program director. “Their experiences exemplify the transformative power of TRIO programs, and we are excited for them to share their stories.”
On Feb. 19 at noon, students can get a free peanut butter and jelly sandwich in the Compton Union Building as part of PB&J Club. Information about TRIO and other programs offered by the Office for Access and Opportunity will be shared.
The celebration will continue Feb. 20 with a history exhibit showcasing how TRIO programs evolved nationally, and at WSU. The exhibition will be held in the SOAR Lounge, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Lighty 260. At noon the same day, there will be a virtual keynote presentation by WSU alum Rosie Rimando-Chareunsap, chancellor of Seattle Colleges and president of South Seattle College. An in-person watch party for her speech, titled From Policy to Practice, will take place in Lighty 260W.
“Having watched her journey from her student days to the incredible changemaker she is today, I know firsthand the wisdom, resilience, and passion she brings,” said Lucila Loera-Herrera, executive director for the Office for Access & Opportunity in Student Affairs. “You won’t want to miss this.”
More information about Rimando-Chareunsap and all TRIO celebration activities is available online.
‘Showing them how to persevere’
Ha will join Rimando-Chareunsap in the WSU alumni ranks in May. Graduating from college is something she and her parents, both immigrants from Vietnam, have dreamt about since she was little. Her next goal is to earn a master’s degree in social work.
“I know I can’t change people’s lives overnight, but I want to give them a little push to gain more autonomy, so they don’t always have to rely on other people,” Ha said. “It’s more about showing them how to persevere and leading them to their own success.
TRIO programs employ a similar strategy that has helped thousands of students like Ha navigate the often-challenging college terrain and graduate with a WSU degree. Many TRIO alums like to share their stories to help inspire others. Read about how WSU’s SSS program helped alum Alejandra Carranza in the delivery room, and how it nudged Elizabeth Mariscal when she was on the brink of giving up her dream of graduating from WSU.
