Donation drive part of National TRIO Day at ASU

February 12, 2014

National TRIO Day at Arizona State University will draw community members and more than 100 high school and college students for a series of workshops to educate attendees on the history and purpose of TRIO programs, as well as participate in a community service project drive Saturday, Feb. 22 at the Tempe campus.

Participants will help in collecting and sorting school supplies that will be donated to Western Valley Elementary School in Phoenix, as a way to show appreciation to the community for its support of the TRIO programs.

TRIO programs – Upward Bound, Veterans Upward Bound and Student Support Services – provide access to higher education for low-income, first-generation and students with disabilities. The federally-funded TRIO programs across ASU's four locations serve more than 900 high school and college students and veterans. Each program strives to increase retention and graduation rates by providing services, opportunities and resources that enhance personal skills and academic excellence.

“TRIO programs like Upward Bound and Veterans’ Upward Bound are two of many valuable mechanisms through which we advance our goal of enhancing college access,” said ASU President Michael M. Crow. “These important, federally funded programs make it possible for ASU to support the academic and overall success of Arizona’s first-generation, veteran and disabled students, and we are proud be part of the TRIO network.”

National TRIO Day at ASU will also include a special keynote address from Irvin L. Coin, who has dedicated more than 40 years to TRIO programs at ASU and has motivated more than 4,000 individuals to pursue higher education. Coin served as the director of ASU's Upward Bound Program and TRIO Programs, and has also served as the president of the Western Association of Educational Opportunity Personnel (WESTOP) – regional association, president of the Arizona Chapter of WESTOP and as a board member of the Council for Opportunity in Education (COE) national association.

“Students use a variety of our services, including tutoring, our computer lab and attending cultural events," said Sylvia Symonds, director of TRIO Student Support Services Downtown Phoenix. "Students continually tell us how much they value one-on-one interactions with staff more than any other service. They come to us in times of triumph, as well as when they experience challenges personally and academically."

Upward Bound graduate Brenda Mendez is now an ASU business student who will graduate college early. "Upward Bound was a life changing opportunity and experience that prepared me for every aspect of college," said Mendez. "I believe that this program helped me to succeed, I graduated in the top 2% of my high school class and received 10 scholarships toward my education. I look forward to giving back to others like me."

Community Service Project drive donations will be accepted through Saturday, Feb. 22 at various drop box locations across the university. Acceptable school supply donations include any type of notebook, backpacks, pencils, pens, erasers, child-safe scissors, folders, binders, notecards, glue, markers, crayons, colored pencils, construction paper, children’s books, etc.

Donation locations:

Downtown Phoenix campus
TRiO Student Support Services, Post Office Suite 104

Polytechnic campus
TRiO Student Support Services, Sutton Hall 201

Tempe campus
TRIO Student Support Services - Disability, Matthews Center
Upward Bound, Irish Hall A 118
Veterans Upward Bound Office, Irish Hall A 121
Day of Service event, Lattie F. Coor Hall, Room 170

West campus
TRIO Student Support Services and STEM, University Center 220

TRIO services include: assistance in choosing a college; tutoring; personal and financial counseling; career counseling; assistance in applying to college; workplace and college visits; special instruction in reading, writing, study skills and mathematics; assistance in applying for financial aid; and academic support in high school or assistance to re-enter high school.

Contact:
Diana Bejarano, Diana.Bejarano@asu.edu, 480-965-1604

Student