{"id":29995,"date":"2025-02-21T23:53:12","date_gmt":"2025-02-22T04:53:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/?p=29995"},"modified":"2025-02-22T14:44:24","modified_gmt":"2025-02-22T19:44:24","slug":"participants-in-trio-programs-join-tusculum-university-leaders-in-highlighting-the-value-of-these-services","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/news\/2025\/participants-in-trio-programs-join-tusculum-university-leaders-in-highlighting-the-value-of-these-services\/","title":{"rendered":"Participants in TRIO programs join Tusculum University leaders in highlighting the value of these services"},"content":{"rendered":"<h3><strong>GREENEVILLE<\/strong> \u2013 High school and collegiate participants in <a href=\"http:\/\/www.tusculum.edu\/\">Tusculum University<\/a>\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/site.tusculum.edu\/student-success\/academic-affairs\/first-gen\/arches\/\">TRIO<\/a> programs for underserved students touted the value and personal impact of these longstanding services during a special event Friday, Feb. 21.<\/h3>\n<div id=\"attachment_29997\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-29997\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-29997\" src=\"https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-8-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"Speakers at Friday\u2019s ceremony emphasized the value of Tusculum University\u2019s TRIO programs. They are, left to right, Dr. David Smith, Guadalupe Flores, Gracie Monk, Janelle Zirger, Angela Masiello, Rachael Barnett and Dr. Scott Hummel.\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-8-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-8-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-8-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-8-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-8-2048x1367.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-8-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-8-120x80.jpg 120w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-8-100x67.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-8-50x33.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-29997\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Speakers at Friday\u2019s ceremony emphasized the value of Tusculum University\u2019s TRIO programs. They are, left to right, Dr. David Smith, Guadalupe Flores, Gracie Monk, Janelle Zirger, Angela Masiello, Rachael Barnett and Dr. Scott Hummel.<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_29996\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-29996\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-29996\" src=\"https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-1-1-300x288.jpg\" alt=\"Dr. Scott Hummel highlights the value of Tusculum's TRIO programs.\" width=\"300\" height=\"288\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-1-1-300x288.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-1-1-1024x984.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-1-1-768x738.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-1-1-208x200.jpg 208w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-1-1-150x144.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-1-1-120x115.jpg 120w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-1-1-100x96.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-1-1-50x48.jpg 50w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-1-1.jpg 1397w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-29996\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Dr. Scott Hummel highlights the value of Tusculum&#8217;s TRIO programs.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Tusculum observed TRIO Day, a national event, and used the occasion in the Scott M. Niswonger Commons to highlight the many positive program outcomes and achievements of alumni. Some TRIO alumni are helping serve the nation working at places such as Nuclear Fuel Services as a chemist and Y-12 National Security Complex as a nuclear engineer. They also contribute to the well-being of communities in a wide array of professions, such as teaching, law enforcement, nursing and research scientist.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOur TRIO programs have some pretty impressive outcomes,\u201d said Dr. Scott Hummel, Tusculum\u2019s president. \u201cWhen you look at the way they help students come to college prepared and then discover how graduation rates at a higher education institution are significantly greater for those who participate in TRIO programs than for those who are eligible but do not take advantage of those services, you see what a difference those programs make.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Background of TRIO<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>TRIO programs serve students whose parents or guardians do not have a bachelor\u2019s degree, who come from lower-income households and\/or who have a disability. These programs are funded by federal grants. Attending Friday\u2019s event were field representatives of U.S. Sens. Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty and Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger. Rachael Barnett, director of <a href=\"https:\/\/site.tusculum.edu\/student-success\/academic-affairs\/first-gen\/sss\/\">Student Support Services<\/a>, a Tusculum\u2019s TRIO program, thanked them for their attendance.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_29999\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-29999\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-29999\" src=\"https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-9-300x219.jpg\" alt=\"Gracie Monk, middle, a Talent Search participant, enjoys a moment with Terri Morgan, left, and Heather Tunnel, two staff members of that program.\" width=\"300\" height=\"219\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-9-300x219.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-9-1024x748.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-9-768x561.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-9-1536x1122.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-9-2048x1495.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-9-274x200.jpg 274w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-9-150x110.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-9-120x88.jpg 120w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-9-100x73.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-9-50x37.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-29999\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Gracie Monk, middle, a Talent Search participant, enjoys a moment with Terri Morgan, left, and Heather Tunnel, two staff members of that program.<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_29998\" style=\"width: 264px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-29998\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-29998\" src=\"https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-2-1-254x300.jpg\" alt=\"Rachael Barnett kicks off the event.\" width=\"254\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-2-1-254x300.jpg 254w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-2-1-867x1024.jpg 867w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-2-1-768x907.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-2-1-169x200.jpg 169w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-2-1-127x150.jpg 127w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-2-1-102x120.jpg 102w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-2-1-85x100.jpg 85w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-2-1-42x50.jpg 42w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-2-1.jpg 990w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 254px) 100vw, 254px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-29998\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Rachael Barnett kicks off the event.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>\u201cTRIO\u2019s continued success relies heavily on congressional support so we are particularly honored you all would spend today with us celebrating TRIO programs,\u201d Barnett said. \u201cFederal TRIO programs have been supporting first-generation, low-income students and opening the doors to educational access and opportunity nationally for 60 years. These programs build students into productive citizens and help to end generational poverty.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Also present at Friday\u2019s ceremony were representatives of TRIO programs at East Tennessee State University as well as Tusculum faculty, staff and students.<\/p>\n<p>Tusculum provides seven TRIO programs \u2013 two each for <a href=\"https:\/\/site.tusculum.edu\/student-success\/academic-affairs\/first-gen\/ub\/\">Upward Bound<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/site.tusculum.edu\/student-success\/academic-affairs\/first-gen\/talent-search\/\">Talent Search<\/a> and SSS and one for <a href=\"https:\/\/site.tusculum.edu\/student-success\/academic-affairs\/first-gen\/ubms\/\">Upward Bound Math and Science<\/a>. SSS, which includes the <a href=\"https:\/\/site.tusculum.edu\/student-success\/academic-affairs\/first-gen\/arches\/\">ARCHES<\/a> program, serves Tusculum students, and the others assist pre-college students. Upward Bound was the first program at Tusculum, beginning in 1973.<\/p>\n<p>In all, Tusculum serves more than 1,800 students in these programs. According to the most recently available statistics, at least 70 percent of high school senior participants in the pre-college programs were enrolled in or were accepted into college, and about 90% of participants achieved a grade point average of at least 2.5. For those participating in SSS and ARCHES as Tusculum students, the retention rate was 81%. Eighty-eight percent attained academic good standing, and 61% graduated within six years.<\/p>\n<p>When one counts the other TRIO programs hosted by other institutions in Northeast Tennessee, the number of students served exceeds 6,000.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Students and alumni perspectives<\/strong><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_30001\" style=\"width: 256px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-30001\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-30001\" src=\"https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-4-1-246x300.jpg\" alt=\"Guadalupe Flores highlights the positive impact of her years in Upward Bound.\" width=\"246\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-4-1-246x300.jpg 246w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-4-1-840x1024.jpg 840w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-4-1-768x936.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-4-1-1261x1536.jpg 1261w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-4-1-164x200.jpg 164w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-4-1-123x150.jpg 123w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-4-1-98x120.jpg 98w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-4-1-82x100.jpg 82w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-4-1-41x50.jpg 41w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-4-1.jpg 1406w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 246px) 100vw, 246px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-30001\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Guadalupe Flores highlights the positive impact of her years in Upward Bound.<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_30000\" style=\"width: 244px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-30000\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-30000\" src=\"https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-3-1-234x300.jpg\" alt=\"Gracie Monk shares her story about participating in Talent Search.\" width=\"234\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-3-1-234x300.jpg 234w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-3-1-800x1024.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-3-1-768x983.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-3-1-1201x1536.jpg 1201w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-3-1-156x200.jpg 156w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-3-1-117x150.jpg 117w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-3-1-94x120.jpg 94w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-3-1-78x100.jpg 78w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-3-1-39x50.jpg 39w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-3-1.jpg 1503w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 234px) 100vw, 234px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-30000\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Gracie Monk shares her story about participating in Talent Search.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Gracie Monk is a senior at Chuckey-Doak High School who has participated in the Talent Search program for seven years. During the ceremony, she shared many highlights. They included her first tour of Tusculum in sixth grade, a Pirates Voyage trip, sports events, visits to memorial sites and a robotics camp. During the height of COVID-19, Talent Search provided a virtual painting class she really enjoyed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTalent Search is an excellent program, allowing students like myself to learn different skills that we will need for our future careers, colleges and life plans,\u201d Monk said. \u201cAs someone who is striving for a career in the medical field, this program has allowed me to see different medical facilities that schools offer and know what I want in a school. Talent Search has shown me the importance of touring the schools that I am interested in and pushed me to do so. I have been blessed to be in such a program as this.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Fellow Chuckey-Doak senior Guadalupe Flores has participated in Upward Bound since her freshman year. Her memories include a winter formal; science, technology, engineering and math trips; and the Summer Academy at Tusculum.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAll Upward Bound advisors have pushed me to continue improving myself even on the days where I don\u2019t think I can keep going.,\u201d Flores said. \u201cIn my life just in general, Upward Bound has been my support for the past four years. I have gained all these mentors and friends who know how to get the best version of me to come out. Now for my commitment to a post-secondary education, I have always known that I wanted to go to college. Upward Bound has been the push for me to go by providing academic support, college visits, workshops, mentorship, community and networking and personal development.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Flores\u2019 next step will be to attend Walters State Community College.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_30003\" style=\"width: 228px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-30003\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-30003\" src=\"https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-6-218x300.jpg\" alt=\"Angela Masiello discusses the impact of Student Support Services and the McNair Scholar Program on her.\" width=\"218\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-6-218x300.jpg 218w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-6-745x1024.jpg 745w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-6-768x1056.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-6-1117x1536.jpg 1117w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-6-145x200.jpg 145w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-6-109x150.jpg 109w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-6-87x120.jpg 87w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-6-73x100.jpg 73w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-6-36x50.jpg 36w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-6.jpg 1224w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 218px) 100vw, 218px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-30003\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Angela Masiello discusses the impact of Student Support Services and the McNair Scholar Program on her.<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_30002\" style=\"width: 242px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-30002\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-30002\" src=\"https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-5-1-232x300.jpg\" alt=\"Janelle Zirger details her experiences in Student Support Services and the McNair Scholar Program.\" width=\"232\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-5-1-232x300.jpg 232w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-5-1-792x1024.jpg 792w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-5-1-768x993.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-5-1-1188x1536.jpg 1188w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-5-1-155x200.jpg 155w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-5-1-116x150.jpg 116w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-5-1-93x120.jpg 93w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-5-1-77x100.jpg 77w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-5-1-39x50.jpg 39w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-5-1.jpg 1547w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 232px) 100vw, 232px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-30002\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Janelle Zirger details her experiences in Student Support Services and the McNair Scholar Program.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Janelle Zirger is a junior at Tusculum, who comes from Jonesborough and is pursuing a degree in <a href=\"https:\/\/site.tusculum.edu\/criminal-justice\/\">criminal justice<\/a> and a minor in <a href=\"https:\/\/site.tusculum.edu\/psychology\/\">psychology<\/a> with a long-term goal of earning a doctorate. She is a participant in SSS.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFrom day one on this campus, I was welcomed and accepted by everyone, but even more so by SSS,\u201d she said. \u201cThey completely understood my perspective of being a first-generation student and taught me that I am not alone in this feeling. Now, that doesn\u2019t go to say that I didn\u2019t have the support of my family and friends. I did. But to really understand something like this, you\u2019d have to be one. You\u2019d have to be able to help someone else understand and encourage them that they do not have to do this journey alone.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In the summer, Zirger participated in the McNair Scholar program, a summer TRIO initiative, at ETSU. This is a research-oriented program, and Zirger spent eight weeks examining the criminal justice system, focusing on police. She has continued working with the McNair program since to further develop her research and has received guidance from Dr. Adam Denton, an associate professor of psychology at Tusculum. She has also made presentations on her research and has more coming, including at Tusculum\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/site.tusculum.edu\/academic-symposium\/\">Academic Symposium<\/a> in May.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_30004\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-30004\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-30004\" src=\"https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-10-300x268.jpg\" alt=\"Left to right are Steve Anderson, Janelle Zirger, Angela Masiello, Meagan Stark and Rachael Barnett. Zirger is a present participant in Student Support Services, and Masiello is an alumna of it. Anderson, Stark and Barnett work in SSS.\" width=\"300\" height=\"268\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-10-300x268.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-10-1024x915.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-10-768x686.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-10-1536x1372.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-10-224x200.jpg 224w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-10-150x134.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-10-120x107.jpg 120w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-10-100x89.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-10-50x45.jpg 50w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-10.jpg 1791w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-30004\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Left to right are Steve Anderson, Janelle Zirger, Angela Masiello, Meagan Stark and Rachael Barnett. Zirger is a present participant in Student Support Services, and Masiello is an alumna of it. Anderson, Stark and Barnett work in SSS.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>One of the people who assisted her in the McNair program is Tusculum <a href=\"https:\/\/web.tusculum.edu\/alumni\/\">alumna<\/a> Angela Masiello, who now pursuing her doctorate in experimental psychology at ETSU. Masiello also spoke during the ceremony.<\/p>\n<p>Masiello participated in SSS and McNair during her Tusculum studies, and she said those programs were the launching pads to help her take off in her academic career. She said the McNair program was particularly helpful in giving her the tools to succeed in graduate school and research. She delved into psychological support and safety for college athletes with mentorship from a Tusculum professor as part of the McNair program and presented her findings at conferences in the region.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI still apply all of the skills I learned through SSS and with McNair today,\u201d Masiello said. \u201cCurrently, I have three publications under review, and I do give a lot of credit to the TRIO programs and services because graduate school is its own beast. Having that knowledge ahead of time of what graduate school really entails is very important for first-generation and low-income students.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cUntil I ran into SSS and joined the program, I had no idea what I was doing with my life or what graduate school involved. But engaging with that program and being a part of McNair reshaped and reoriented my future, and I am so thankful for that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Administrative views<\/strong><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_30005\" style=\"width: 291px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-30005\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-30005\" src=\"https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-7-281x300.jpg\" alt=\"Dr. David Smith speaks during the ceremony.\" width=\"281\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-7-281x300.jpg 281w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-7-961x1024.jpg 961w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-7-768x819.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-7-188x200.jpg 188w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-7-141x150.jpg 141w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-7-113x120.jpg 113w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-7-94x100.jpg 94w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-7-47x50.jpg 47w, https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/TRIO-7.jpg 1092w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 281px) 100vw, 281px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-30005\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Dr. David Smith speaks during the ceremony.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>\u201cWhat you heard in listening to each of these students\u2019 incredible stories emphasizes what\u2019s so important about TRIO programs,\u201d said Dr. David Smith, executive director of those programs at Tusculum. \u201cNational TRIO Day gives us an opportunity to reflect on the beautiful entity that is TRIO programs. Ultimately, it comes down to students because they are the talented individuals in development. We have the privilege of working with those individuals and nurturing that talent along so they have someone in their corner to help them achieve their goals.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>When Dr. Hummel examines TRIO programs from a financial perspective, he sees tremendous value.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt takes federal investments in these TRIO programs for them to operate, but that is, by no means, just money spent on a program,\u201d he said. \u201cThat is money spent on students and investing in them. The TRIO programs have generated a tremendous return on investment through academic opportunity and economic impact.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Additional details about Tusculum\u2019s TRIO programs are available at <a href=\"https:\/\/site.tusculum.edu\/student-success\/academic-affairs\/first-gen\/\">https:\/\/site.tusculum.edu\/student-success\/academic-affairs\/first-gen\/<\/a>. More information about the university is available at <a href=\"http:\/\/www.tusculum.edu\">www.tusculum.edu<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><h3><strong>GREENEVILLE<\/strong> \u2013 High school and collegiate participants in <a href=\"http:\/\/www.tusculum.edu\/\">Tusculum University<\/a>\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/site.tusculum.edu\/student-success\/academic-affairs\/first-gen\/arches\/\">TRIO<\/a> programs for underserved students touted the value and personal impact of these longstanding services during a special event Friday, Feb. 21.<\/h3>\n<p>Tusculum observed TRIO Day, a national event, and used the occasion in the Scott M. Niswonger Commons to highlight the many positive program outcomes and achievements of alumni. Some TRIO alumni are helping serve the nation working at places such as Nuclear Fuel Services as a chemist and Y-12 National Security Complex as a nuclear engineer. They also contribute to the well-being of communities in a wide array of professions, such as teaching, law enforcement, nursing and research scientist.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOur TRIO programs have some pretty impressive outcomes,\u201d said Dr. Scott Hummel, Tusculum\u2019s president. \u201cWhen you look at the way they help students come to college prepared and then discover how graduation rates at a higher education institution are significantly greater for those who participate in TRIO programs than for those who are eligible but do not take advantage of those services, you see what a difference those programs make.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/news\/2025\/participants-in-trio-programs-join-tusculum-university-leaders-in-highlighting-the-value-of-these-services\/\"> Read the full article&#8230;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[131,91,7,19,152,142,169,146,1,6,148,147,149,172],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v20.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Participants in TRIO programs join Tusculum University leaders in highlighting the value of these services :: Tusculum University<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/news\/2025\/participants-in-trio-programs-join-tusculum-university-leaders-in-highlighting-the-value-of-these-services\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Participants in TRIO programs join Tusculum University leaders in highlighting the value of these services :: Tusculum University\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"GREENEVILLE \u2013 High school and collegiate participants in Tusculum University\u2019s TRIO programs for underserved students touted the value and personal impact of these longstanding services during a special event Friday, Feb. 21. Tusculum observed TRIO Day, a national event, and used the occasion in the Scott M. Niswonger Commons to highlight the many positive program outcomes and achievements of alumni. Some TRIO alumni are helping serve the nation working at places such as Nuclear Fuel Services as a chemist and Y-12 National Security Complex as a nuclear engineer. They also contribute to the well-being of communities in a wide array of professions, such as teaching, law enforcement, nursing and research scientist. \u201cOur TRIO programs have some pretty impressive outcomes,\u201d said Dr. Scott Hummel, Tusculum\u2019s president. \u201cWhen you look at the way they help students come to college prepared and then discover how graduation rates at a higher education institution are significantly greater for those who participate in TRIO programs than for those who are eligible but do not take advantage of those services, you see what a difference those programs make.\u201d Read the full article...\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/news\/2025\/participants-in-trio-programs-join-tusculum-university-leaders-in-highlighting-the-value-of-these-services\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"TUSCULUM UNIVERSITY NEWS\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" 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