On February 27, the TRIO programs at UTK ERO hosted the Tennessee TRIO National TRIO Day student conference. Over 380 program participants and staff traveled from all over Tennessee to learn more about leadership, compete in academic competitions, and overall learn more about what Rocky Top has to offer for future undergraduate students.

Four different types of TRIO programs were in attendance: Talent Search (TS) serves middle and high school students, Upward Bound or Upward Bound Math and Science (UB/UBMS) serves high school students, and finally, Student Support Services (SSS) serves colleges students at a community college or four-year college or university. Attendees came from Douglas-Cherokee Economic Authority (UB/UBMS), Dyersburg State Community College (UB/UBMS), East Tennessee State University (TS, UB/UBMS), Maryville College (SSS), Middle Tennessee State University (UB/UBMS), Monroe County Schools (TS), Tennessee State University (UB/UBMS), Tusculum University (TS, UB/UBMS), University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UB/UBMS), and University of Tennessee at Knoxville (UB/UBMS).

The keynote speaker for the day was Vice Chancellor for Access and Engagement, Dr. Tyvi Small. Dr. Small spoke about his pursuit of education and how he persevered through the many challenges of enrollment, degree completion, and obtaining a terminal degree. Dr. Small spoke of how his experience in Student Support Services, a TRIO program for college students, made a significant impact on his life.

ERO staff Stephanie Langley and Halle Timpson organized the Veterans Upward Bound and the Educational Opportunity Center essay competitions, where participants provided a short essay about how TRIO services impacted their ability to overcome the barriers of postsecondary education. This was the first time that the state was able to offer this competition for adult participants.

ERO staff Charles White, Leigh Ann Elkins, and Jonathan Curry coordinated the academic bowl (competition for TRIO students in the Talent Search program), scholars bowl (competition for TRIO students in Upward Bound/ Upward Bound Math and Science), and academic workshops based on leadership. Topics covered first-gen success, emotional intelligence and soft skills, conflict management, and etiquette. The UT College of Law provided a mock trial where students played the roles of lawyer, judge, witness or juror to learn more about the legal system and how to practice law.

Wrapping up the day, the ERO Center presented Tennessee TRIO with a proclamation from the City of Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon to publicly recognize National TRIO Day. The proclamation helped showcase a “calling for a community-wide commitment to educational equity, access, and opportunity for all.”

For more information about the Tennessee TRIO and the impactful work being done through TRIO programs, please visit https://www.tasptrio.org/. 

Jonathan Curry
PI/Project Director
Pre-College Upward Bound (PCUB)