MSUB is pleased to highlight past participant Samuel Leighton Hoster. In addition to being an exceptional MSUB participant while in high school, he was also awarded and successfully completed our summer Bridge Scholarship program, which prepares students for their first year in college. He has since begun his time as a Freshman at UTK and is enjoying his experiences as a Mechanical Engineering major. His journey is a testament to the transformative power of education and the opportunities TRiO programs can provide. We are incredibly proud of his accomplishments and are excited to see what’s to come. Samuel Leighton Hoster shared a personal statement reflecting on the impact TRiO had on him.
My experience in TRiO and MSUB has been nothing short of remarkable. Unfortunately, I was only able to attend this [summer] program one time, and I wish that I had the opportunity to be a part of it for all 3 years in high school. MSUB offered me the experience of living in a college setting and taking classes that I otherwise would not have had access to in my high school. Being able to get a taste of what college is like is an experience I would recommend any high school student to have. Even if they do not want to go to college, the social aspect of living with a community of people you’ve never met, doing challenges with a team of them, and overall experiencing the program together is such an extraordinary experience.
TRiO has completely changed the trajectory of my life, and I think it can change other people’s lives as well, even if they don’t attend the summer program, the mentoring of the college readiness process is like nothing else. Being a first-generation student from a small school in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, I had no idea what to do after high school. Everyone is told that college is the way to go if you want to be successful in life, but the process is very challenging for someone who has no help from people who have previously been to college. The staff at the program understood my interests in mechanics and automotives, and help me bring my college readiness to fruition. They helped me with everything, every step of the way. Any question I had would be answered and I will forever be thankful. I was able to focus my interests and consider a path in college, and I chose Mechanical Engineering. I am still studying it as a freshman, and I wouldn’t be here without TRiO.
One of the most impactful things in this program was my opportunity to receive the BRIDGE scholarship since I was an upcoming senior in the summer program (2023). This scholarship
gave me the chance to take real classes at UTK and experience living in a dorm with a roommate for an entire summer term. I would have never had the chance to experience college before everyone else. I was able to excel in my classes and ended up attending UTK the following Fall term to study Mechanical Engineering.
It is impossible to express my gratitude to TRiO and UBMS for guiding me through the entire process of going to college, including all of the financial worries that come with it. I have made so many connections through this program that still assists me even to this day. I am currently still in touch with several staff members of the program, and I look forward to being a part of the program and mentoring students. I think a lot of high school students need to be understood and need guidance to pursue something greater. TRiO will do that.
Samuel Leighton Hoster is a Freshman at UTK and is enjoying his experiences as a Mechanical Engineering major.