TRIO program receives grant
A five-year grant of $420,020 has been awarded to National Park College’s TRIO Student Support Services.
“The services provided by the SSS program are vital to the success of NPC’s low-income, first-generation, and disabled students,” John Tucker, dean of students, said.
Services to eligible participants include one-on-one tutoring in every subject, academic advising that includes degree mapping, assistance in transferring to universities, cultural enrichment activities, life skills and study skills workshops, financial literacy training and additional financial assistance, he said.
TRIO Student Support Services is a federally funded program designed to assist low-income, first-generation or disabled students through their undergraduate degrees, Tucker said.
“Nationally, there were 1,100 successful SSS grant applications in the 2020 competition. There were 26 successful SSS grant applications from Arkansas colleges and universities in the 2020 competition,” he said.
“TRIO SSS provides opportunities for academic advancement, helps students with basic college requirements, and encourages students toward completion of their education,” a news release states.
TRIO students will receive additional support in academic advising, tutoring, resources for scholarships, and assistance in completing financial aid applications, it said.
Tucker said he had to submit the SSS grant application in January after a long six-month research and writing process.
“The entire SSS staff, including Chris Afeld, Kaye Foshee, Robyn Hendrix, Suzanne Hendrix, Lisa Walker and I are thrilled to continue serving NPC’s TRIO-eligible students,” Tucker said in the release.
“TRIO has a longstanding history of contributing to student success.
We know that it works because we watch these students persist, graduate, and come back to celebrate with us,” NPC President John Hogan said.
“Many of our most at-risk students receive support from the TRIO program, and I am thankful we are able to offer these services to help them succeed,” he said.