TRIO Day at UWS

On Feb. 20, the University of Wisconsin-Superior hosted TRIO Day in the William Pope Wright Student Center to celebrate national TRIO programs. The event is hosted to celebrate the programs of Upward Bound, Student Support Services (SSS), and McNair.

According to TRIO programs website, TRIO programs are federal support and outreach programs designed to help students from disadvantaged backgrounds thrive in higher education settings. TRIO day featured lunch for attendees, as well as speeches from past and present directors of the TRIO programs.

“You can do almost anything you want if you put your head to it. If you listen to these professionals around you, these people really know what they’re doing, and these faculty members that are supporting them, will make you guys soar,” said former SSS Director Riley O’Halloran after speaking for Sue Holm, previous director who started the McNair Scholarship, who was unable to attend. He discussed how he got into Student Support Services, as well as reminisced on how passionate and caring students in the program were, which inspired him to be involved with the program.

Riley O’Halloran sharing his experience with Student Support Services. Photo by Maddie Schaffer | The Promethean

The event also featured the former Upward Bound Director, Vince Repesh. Repesh also shared his experience as a previous director of Upward Bound. Repesh shared stories of disadvantaged students that he had assisted during his time as director, and how much they have succeeded through the Upward Bound Program. “There’s so many people that have walked before you in all of these programs, Upward Bound, SSS, and McNair. And make sure wherever you go, you remember where you came from and pass it forward,” said Repesh.

Former Upward Bound Director, Vince Repesh. Photo by Maddie Schaffer | The Promethean

The event closed with Angie Hugdahl, current director of Upward Bound, who talked more about Upward Bound and recognized those who are involved, as well as emphasized on the importance of TRIO. “We have to stay strong and fight and stick together, making sure that we are writing to our government constitutes, and talking about how important TRIO programs are,” said Hugdahl. For more information about TRIO, visit the TRIO Programs page on the UW-Superior website.