SEDALIA, MO – Nov. 11, 2021 – State Fair Community College’s TRiO Student Support Services (SSS) program celebrated its 20th anniversary on Nov. 8 with a reception in Yeater Learning Center on the Sedalia campus. Current students, alumni, TRiO staff, and employees gathered to reflect on how the program has helped more than 800 first-generation students graduate from SFCC and continue on to earn bachelors’ degrees.
The TRiO programs began under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965. In 1968, TRiO Student Support Services was added as the third program, making a “trio” of federal outreach and support programs. However, TRiO has grown to eight programs that serves individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds to progress through the academic pipeline from middle school to postbaccalaureate programs.
SFCC’s TRiO Student Support Services provide free services to 160 eligible students each year at all SFCC campuses in Boonville, Clinton, Eldon, Lake of the Ozarks, Sedalia, and Whiteman Air Force Base. Services include tutoring, personalized academic advising, career exploration, financial aid assistance, cultural enrichment, study and life skills workshops, and transfer assistance to four-year schools. TRiO staff at SFCC are Crissina Kemp, director; David Thomas, coordinator; Wanda Trauschke, administrative assistant; and Kristen Henning, student success coach; Michael Mugler, receptionist; and two professional math tutors, Jane Gray and Julie Cronin.
“We are excited and grateful to celebrate 20 years of helping first-generation students be successful in and outside the classroom at SFCC,” said Kemp. “The assistance TRiO provides our students is so critical to their college and career success. It is gratifying to watch them overcome barriers and challenges, gain knowledge and confidence and see them achieve their goals.”
Visit www.sfccmo.edu/trio to learn more.
