National TRIO Achievers (2008)

 

Sharnnia Artis Human Factors Engineer, Aptima, Inc. Alumna, McNair Program, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

 

For as long as I can remember, I dreamed of being a scientist, a community activist, and an educator. I dreamed of following in the footsteps of the late Ronald E. McNair. I dreamed of emulating Martin Luther King, Jr. I dreamed of modeling my life after Mary McLeod Bethune, founder of the Daytona Normal and Industrial Institute for Negro Girls (now Bethune-Cookman College). I understood that their common denominator was education, so I knew that attending college and obtaining an advanced degree were essential to making my dreams a reality.

Though I recognized that a college education was essential, I was uncertain about how I could make that happen when neither of my parents had a college degree and none of my grandparents had even completed high school. How was I going to beat the odds? I knew there must be a way because my mother always talked about my attending college as though it was inevitable…regardless of the hardships I faced.

My mother also stressed that you have to “believe it to achieve it”…I always believed I could accomplish anything in life if people believed in me. My mother believed I was going to be the first college graduate in our household. Dr. Miya Simpson, my McNair Scholars Program Director, believed that I would be one of the first Ph.D. graduates in my cohort of McNair Scholars. They believed in me so I believed in myself. Thanks to TRIO's sustaining vision, I was able to accomplish the highest degree in my field, a Ph.D. in Industrial and Systems Engineering.

“The McNair Scholars Program equipped me with the research tools, knowledge, and tenacity to be admitted into many of the top Industrial Engineering graduate programs.”

As one of the first McNair Scholars at Virginia Tech, I was eager to take advantage of everything the program had to offer. I attended every scholars meeting, every program centered on undergraduate research, and every seminar that could prepare me for graduate school. The McNair Program provided me both the opportunity and funding to travel to Ghana to collect data for my undergraduate research. The program also enabled me to travel to different states to present my research, attend conferences to learn about preparing for graduate school, and visit different colleges. In short, the McNair Scholars Program equipped me with the research tools, knowledge, and tenacity to be admitted into many of the top Industrial Engineering graduate programs.

I credit my success to those who believed in me, and now I want to encourage others to achieve their full potential. My education has been my path to success as a scientist/engineer, community activist, and educator. Now it is time for me to give back to the students who will come after me by believing in them and providing them the same support and audacity of hope that was instilled in me. I believed and I have achieved.

 

 

Jacklyn Chisholm Vice President, Planning and Institutional Relations, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum Alumna, Student Support Services, Case Western Reserve University

 

I began Case Western Reserve University in the fall of 1977, having graduated from a predominantly African American high school known for its academic excellence, and matriculated to a predominantly white college known for its academic excellence. While I was excited about the possibilities that college presented, I was also afraid because: 1) I had never lived away from home, 2) I had never experienced being a “minority” student before, 3) I knew that my mom could not afford to help me with college, and 4) I was certain that my family would be limited in helping me transition to college because they had not attended one.

Unfortunately, I made the foolish decision to not attend orientation. As a result, my first day of class was my first real experience of the campus. However, I was quickly introduced to the Directors of the Special Services (Student Support Services) program, Ken Wiley and Stella Loeb Munson. They became my surrogate parents and my staunchest supporters during my early years of college. They helped me to better understand my role as a student, including the strategies that I needed to succeed, as well as my responsibility to assist other students through the process.

The lessons learned and the support I received through the program helped keep me moving forward through many trials in my personal life to finally graduating eight years later from CWRU with a Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Anthropology in 1985.

“I am certain that I could not have earned any degrees without the tremendous support—both financial and emotional—and the invaluable mentoring that I received through the SSS program.”

I consider myself extremely blessed; I have been privileged to earn three degrees over a 20-year period: BA, MA in Psychological Anthropology, and a Doctorate in Psychological Anthropology with an emphasis on Educational Anthropology. I am certain, however, that I could not have earned any degrees without the tremendous support—both financial and emotional—and the invaluable mentoring that I received through the SSS program.

My educational and professional journey has been tremendously enriched by my experience in the Special Services program. It is a trite, but true statement: I really don’t know where I would be without their assistance and encouragement, and the program’s funding. It is an honor to be selected as a 2008 TRIO Achiever, as it is equally important to me to champion the TRIO programs now and in the future. The program changed my life as TRIO continues to change the lives of countless others.

 

 

Kenneth P. Green State Representative (CT) and Social Worker, Capitol Region Education Council, John J. Allison Polaris Education Center Alumnus, Upward Bound, University of Connecticut

 

I was a teenager living in an urban community. I gave little thought to attending college. I was approached by individuals associated with the Connecticut Preparatory Enrichment Program (CONNPEP) who told my mother about the opportunities ahead if I were to be part of the program. In all honesty, I did not want to go; I did not want to spend my summers away from my friends and family in a place that seemed far away and different from my community. I pleaded with my mother not to make me go and tried to convince her I was needed at home. She was understanding but knew that this was a wonderful chance for me and sent me on my way.

I did not understand then—I thought she did not care—but today I thank her for her insight. My mother did not have much money and material things but she had wisdom and she first taught me about generosity. Her life lessons bring to mind a quote from Dr. Johnnetta B. Cole: “The ultimate expression of generosity is not in giving of what you have, but in giving of who you are.”

I appreciate the people involved with CONNPEP because they taught me the true meaning of generosity. The time, patience, caring, and concern that staff gave to students went beyond having a job. The information and training offered to attend college was the goal; but the support and nurturing given to all of us was immeasurable. At the time it was difficult to understand why the staff persisted in talking with me about my future when I was so focused on the present. Now I realize that they were giving me a great and generous gift.

“The information and training offered to attend college was the goal; but the support and nurturing given to all of us was immeasurable.”

Today, as I involve myself in public service as a State Representative and a school social worker, I try to bring about changes to our community that increase the opportunities for others. Whether working with the state legislature to restore public housing funding or working with community youth to bolster their self-esteem, I am mindful of what I received and learned about generosity of spirit back in my days with CONNPEP.

I have been blessed; I have experienced life, its comforts, and challenges. I appreciate this award and make this statement to offer a glimpse of the value of the CONNPEP program. I know that the experience was a major factor in my life accomplishments. The CONNPEP staff believed in me and gave of themselves to help me succeed.

 

 

Joseph Little Team Leader and Readjustment Counselor, Department of Veterans Affairs Alumnus, Veterans Upward Bound, Arizona State University

 

Having been raised in three different states—New York, Arizona, and California—and transferring from Catholic school back to public schools several times, I felt I was at a disadvantage. I became the class clown.

When I started taking school seriously, grasping some concepts in math and picking up my grades in high school, I realized I might be able to go to college and be the first in my family to do so. But there was a war in Vietnam, and education became secondary to my life goals. I wanted a military career as an Army Ranger.

When I returned from my second tour overseas and spent a year in the hospital, I was not quite the same. After recovering from my wounds and returning to active duty, I was assigned to train cadets specializing in small unit tactics at West Point Military Academy. I knew then that I wanted to attend college and officer candidate school. However, that dream was short-lived. I was deemed no longer fit for duty and medically retired.

I returned to California to pursue my dream of college. But my injuries required more medical treatment. I went to Arizona where I enrolled in a community college and struggled. I dropped out several times due to medical treatment. I sought counseling for my war experiences and was offered Vocational Rehabilitation through the Department of Veterans Affairs. I started college again and dropped out after more surgery. I was told that I might not complete my studies because I had a learning disability associated with PTSD and head trauma from blast concussions.

“Veterans Upward Bound helped me stay on course and make my dreams come true. I made it because of TRIO Veterans Upward Bound—and am still moving up.”

I felt like a failure. Then a friend told me about Veterans Upward Bound at Arizona State University. I checked it out and thought the staff was not dealing with a full deck—they enjoyed their work way too much. They really had an interest in helping us succeed. I started out at the community college and transferred to Arizona State. I had more surgery but VUB was there for me. The staff helped keep me on track during two back operations and left me with no more excuses.

I will never forget my VUB instructors—they are still great friends. They were my motivators. They convinced me that I could do it. I completed my undergraduate degree with a 3.7 PGA and was amazed, though my VUB instructors were not. I bought into the faith they had in me, applied for a Masters program and was accepted.

Making it through my college education was a daunting task. Veterans Upward Bound helped me stay on course and make my dreams come true. I made it because of TRIO Veterans Upward Bound—and am still moving up.

 

 

Nicolas Rosario Álvarez Associate Professor, Universidad Metropolitana Alumnus, Talent Search, Universidad del Turabo

 

When I arrived at Antonio S. Pedreira High School in 1982, I found an announcement inviting students to participate in the Talent Search program. It wasn’t appealing to most of my classmates to stay after school. Fortunately, I decided to participate in the meeting.

My family did not want me to go to college because my parents never did. My father wanted me to work as a poultry farmer as soon as I finished high school, just as he did. One day, I went on a field trip sponsored by the Talent Search program to the Museum at the University of Puerto Rico. For the first time, I saw a university campus. I decided right then that I was going to be the first one in my family with a university degree.

“The social and community work that I enjoy doing today, especially for low-income students, I do to give back to the Talent Search Program for what it gave me.”

In 1985, I had to take the College Board Test for admission to the University of Puerto Rico. My parents refused to give me the $20 to take the test. Professor Alba Lebrón, the Talent Search Director, changed my life. I will never forget that she paid for my test and helped me with the admission process to the University of Puerto Rico in Cayey. My father was so angry with my decision that he never supported me during my university years.

But Professor Lebrón never hesitated to help me, to support my ideas, and to follow my professional and personal achievements, providing the emotional support needed to continue. From her, I learned that we have to work hard to achieve what we want. The social and community work that I enjoy doing today, especially for low-income students, I do to give back to the Talent Search Program for what it gave me.

 

 

Maria Vasquez Senior Manager of Strategic Initiatives and National Funding, Promethean, Inc. Alumna, Upward Bound, Texas Tech University

 

Perseverance is something I inherited from my mother. No matter how hopeless things seemed, she always managed to move forward. My mother was a struggling single mom with four children. She worked two jobs during the year. Come April, my mother would pack her family up and we would go north to follow the crops. We would pick asparagus, cherries, cucumbers and rhubarb in Michigan and then go to Ohio to pick tomatoes. We usually stayed until the first frost in October. This was back-breaking work but we never complained because we knew the money we earned would sustain us during the year.

My siblings and I missed a great deal of school. We normally did not start school until mid-October after our return from picking crops. We always seemed to be behind. During elementary and middle school I always got by. However, in high school, missing days of school took a toll. My high school teachers had little sympathy with my struggles and were not interested in helping me catch up and pass end of course exams.

“The determination and perseverance inherited from my mother and the self confidence I developed in Upward Bound enabled me to move forward and never give up.”

It seemed I was destined to become a statistic—a child born into extreme poverty, from a migrant family to boot. But Upward Bound was a life-changing experience for me. The program gave me a glimpse of something I had never dared hope for—the possibility of attending a university. They taught me that I had to be persistent to get my high school to give me the make-up work I needed for the credits necessary for graduation. The determination and perseverance inherited from my mother and the self confidence I developed in Upward Bound enabled me to move forward and never give up.

Through Upward Bound I learned the value of an education and acquired the skills I needed to be successful in school. I looked forward to the Saturday meetings; I made friends with others who shared my goals. Upward Bound allowed me to reach my dreams. I graduated with honors from high school and was the first college graduate in my family. I became a teacher, an administrator, and later a technology executive. I am forever grateful for the blessings given to me by the Upward Bound program.

 

 

David Yarlott President, Little Big Horn College Alumnus, Student Support Services, Montana State University–Bozeman

 

I attended Montana State University (MSU) in Bozeman, MT from 1989 to 1994, as an undergraduate student in Business Management. I had some previous college experience but as a new student at MSU, I was not prepared for the large campus, the large classes, and the increased demands academically. The unexpected changes were overwhelming.

I struggled adjusting to the increased demands and responsibilities of campus life, including Financial Aid, selecting courses, budgeting, requesting tutors. During my second quarter I heard about the Advance By Choice (Student Support Services) Program for first generation/low income students. Without their services, advice, and encouragement I’d have had a much tougher time with college and might not have completed my degrees.

“Without their [SSS] services, advice, and encouragement I’d have had a much tougher time with college and might not have completed my degrees.”

I returned to the community I grew up in and became employed at Little Big Horn College, the tribal college I once attended. I now serve as President of Little Big Horn College. Many of my successes are linked to my experiences with the TRIO Programs. I have been fortunate: selected to serve as the Board Chair for the American Indian College Fund; serving as an Executive Officer at-Large for the American Indian Higher Education Consortium; and appointed by the Governor of Montana to be on an Advisory Committee for the Montana Correctional Enterprise.

Of course, we have a Student Support Services Program at Little Big Horn College. As president, I am committed to ensuring that the program is fully supported with space, equipment, and other resources needed to assist our students. I thank the MSU Advance By Choice for all the years of support. And I commend all the other TRIO Programs across the nation for a job well done. Ahoo!