TRIO Program at Gulf Coast State College Helps First-Gen Students Reach their Academic Goals

PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) - A student support service program is helping first-generation and low-income students reach their educational goals.

“We provide them academic support for gaining access to higher education, and then once they complete that program we have them come here in our student support service program, that’s our college piece. Then those students have student support on campus,” Danielle Pierce, TRIO Assistant UB Director said.

The TRIO program provides participants with academic and personal development services for the successful completion of their post-secondary education.

“Growing up I didn’t know all the time which path I wanted to go to and they have helped me find that and have helped push me and motivate me to keep going,” Riley Sitkiewitz, a student in the program said.

At the pre-collegiate level, students are helped with their college application, FAFSA, and even financial aid. TRIO then provides students guidance on graduation requirements, academic tutoring, scholarships, test preparation, and more.

Staff in the program say that participants grow up to work as great professionals in their fields. They also say it feels like less of a program and more like a family to them.