SSS TRIO is a program that can be found at Langston University as well as across the country. SSS TRIO is a federal-based program that offers Student Support Services (SSS) under The Department of Education.
In the past, Langston University received over a million dollars to help fund this program in support of those from low-income backgrounds and first-generation families.
Dezz Lewis the Project Director for TRIO as well as a professor here at Langston University says, “This is one of the oldest civil rights movements, that was launched out the civil rights movement in 1965.”
The main goals of TRIO are advocacy, collaboration, inclusiveness, individual growth and respect.
Lewis says, “As a higher education professional it impacts me every day to see the progress we’ve made, the impact we’ve made on this campus period, with campus involvement and academic engagement … alot of the times people come to Langston they get engaged socially but not academically”.
A student named E’lise Thompson who is a sophomore accounting major and has been a part of TRIO for about a year says, “TRIO has helped me build leadership skills, networking skills, and they have also helped me grow on a personal level. TRIO offers a range of opportunities and services that help with internships, leadership, mentoring, tutoring, and according to Thompson “college life in general”.
TRIO is for students who have been approved for the program and they host events year-round to help students explore opportunities and create bonds.
One event hosted by TRIO was a trip to Showbiz Cinemas which was quoted to be Thompson’s “favorite” event, where they went bowling and ate food.
Langston University offers a mentoring program through TRIO called PAWS which stands for “Preparing. Assisting. Welcoming. Serving” and it helps build leadership and social growth for not only the mentee but also the mentor.
PAWS was created by Dikailyn Toles who is a graduating senior and majoring in elementary education whose reasoning is, “They were providing a lot of academic support through their academic mentors, because they have great mentors in TRIO, but we weren’t giving our students enough social support, so that was the goal of PAWS,” said Toles.
She has seen the benefits of the TRIO program through her time at Langston as well as her time at her previous school thus continuing the program after transferring.
These opportunities can help these students build their resumes, network with others in their fields of study, find internships, and pass their classes to be ready for their future career.
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The Gazette serves as the student voice of Langston University. It is produced within the Department of Communication as a teaching tool and local news source for the campus community. The views and opinions expressed within are those of the writers whose names appear with the articles and do not necessarily represent the views of Langston University.
