THE BENEFITS OF TRIO

You might have seen their fliers around campus for TRIO-SSS, or TRIO student support services: With 133 students currently enrolled, and another 34 spots still open for TRIO participation, the Advocate sat down with two ambassadors of TRIO.

Our goal: to help Mt. Hood students know more about these interesting programs, and how they might be able to help you.

TRIO is designed to help students from low-income families, first-generation (first in their family to attend college) students, and students with a documented disability take the necessary steps required to transfer to a four-year college.

TRIO regularly plans tours to four-year colleges, and has a dedicated staff ready to help MHCC students with any questions they might have. This staff includes special advisers and tutors that work with the program.

Sienna Tunison, who has been in TRIO since high school, and Chris Barney, are two of the current ambassadors in the program. Their job is to reach out to MHCC’s student population and help it understand what TRIO is, and the help the program provides to students.

“While in TRIO you will be assigned an adviser, who you will be able to meet with through the entire time you are in TRIO. They help you with your academic plans, or your personal goals,” said Tunison. “Whatever you may need help with, they are there for you.” There also are textbooks, laptops, calculators, clickers, pencils, and pens available – “whatever you need as a student,” she said.

There are many workshops that TRIO provides, some taught by the ambassadors themselves. Coming up is one workshop that helps individuals deal with stress management.

“I love TRIO,” Tunison continued. “Upstairs in the TRIO area, there is an entire area for TRIO students to come do homework (or simply hang out). There is a whiteboard, a huge table and there are some laptops for students to use… which is amazing. I feel like it is something that could be used more than it is, but it’s still there.”

As ambassadors, they are happy to help students if they have any questions, said Tunison and Barney.

“My favorite part (about TRIO is) the people,” Tunison said. “They’re so nice and they care about your success, which helps me a lot, knowing that they care about my future.”

This program is completely free, so anyone interested can go to the upper floor (mezzanine level) of the MHCC Library and check TRIO out, in room AC3303. You may also contact them at (503) 491-7688. The TRIO team will be happy to help in any way needed. For more information go to https://www.mhcc.edu/TRIO-SSS/

NOTE: This is a corrected version of the story as of May 29, 2019.