February 25, 2014

 

Contacts:

Kelly Buck, Student Support Services/TRiO, 657-2162
Carmen Price, University Relations, 657-2269

 

Free and open to the public; refreshments will be served

 

MSU BILLINGS NEWS SERVICES 鈥� Success in school is the focus of this year鈥檚 annual TRiO Day at Montana State University Billings.

 

TRiO student

MSUB students, college-bound middle and high school students and community members are invited to attend the event, set for Friday, Feb. 28, from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Liberal Arts building second-floor lobby.

 

Sponsored by MSUB鈥檚 Student Support Services, Educational Talent Search and Upward Bound, TRiO Day is a national celebration of TRiO programs and their participants. The federally funded program includes outreach and support programs that assist first-generation, economically disadvantaged and disabled students to obtain an education.

 

鈥淏ecause of TRiO, I received the support, confidence and motivation I needed to earn a master鈥檚 degree in social work,鈥� Kelly Buck said, who now pays it forward to MSUB students as the director of Student Support Services and the university鈥檚 TRiO program.

 

TRiO was initiated by the Higher Education Act of 1965 during Lynden B. Johnson鈥檚 鈥淲ar on Poverty鈥� campaign.  The program represents a range of services designed to assist students with academic promise in overcoming the educational, financial and social challenges that impede college graduation.

 

Student Support Services serves about 280 students annually while Educational Talent Search serves 570, Upward Bound 75 and Veteran鈥檚 Upward Bound 155. All services are free of charge to students enrolled in the programs.

 

Representatives will be available during the event to offer tips on academic success and information about TRiO programs. Prospective students have the opportunity to learn about financial aid, study skills, tutoring resources, advising and career options.  The event is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served as well as giveaways and prizes.

 

Call Student Support Services/TRiO at 657-2162 for more information about programs and the event.  Student Support Services/TRiO is funded through the U.S. Department of Education.

 

PHOTO ABOVE: MSUB graduate Randa Adams received services through Upward Bound, Educational Talent Search and Student Support Services. She is now a master鈥檚 candidate at Montana State University.