Maine’s TRIO programs to participate
in annual State House Hall of Flags informational event
More than 100 students and staff members of TRIO programs from Aroostook to York counties will visit the Maine State House on Wednesday, March 4, from 8:30 a.m. to noon. They will celebrate the educational opportunities they have been able to utilize and will urge lawmakers to continue their support of the federally-funded outreach and student services programs known as TRIO.
Photo courtesy of UMPI
UMPI TRIO Upward Bound students Kate Leavitt, at left, and Carolynn Brundage, at right — both from Presque Isle High School — interned in Congressman Mike Michaud’s Presque Isle office in the summer of 2014.
Five members of the University of Maine at Presque Isle’s TRIO College Access Services will be joining their peers at this event. They have been elected by their fellow Upward Bound students at UMPI to represent them on the statewide Upward Bound Student Leadership Council. Students representing UMPI/UMFK Upward Bound include: Emma Huffman, Fort Fairfield High School; Kate Leavitt and Travis Hewitt, Presque Isle High School; Austin Daniels, Hodgdon High School; and Mariah Farrington, Katahdin High School.
Maine TRIO students and staff members plan to set up displays and speak on behalf of their programs. All programs have been encouraged to contact their local elected officials to invite them to visit with students and learn more about the recent achievements of their constituents.
According to Leavitt, not much could be more exciting than visiting Maine’s seat of legislative power. She completed an internship with U.S. Congressman Michael Michaud as part of her work experience with Upward Bound last summer.
“I especially enjoyed answering calls from constituents. Making the connections with how our laws help or hurt people was really eye-opening. I am looking forward to meeting our Aroostook County legislators and learning even more about the legislative process, as well as letting our delegates know what a life-changing opportunity TRIO Upward Bound is for students who participate,” said Leavitt.
Maine’s TRIO programs work with students across the state to prepare them for higher education in order to help them fulfill their educational and career goals. Youth pre-college programs include: Educational Talent Search (grades 6-12), and Upward Bound (grades 9-12). Adult programs include: the Educational Opportunity Center (adults aged 19 and over) and Student Support Services (college students at sponsoring post-secondary institutions).
These federally-funded college opportunity programs motivate and support 790,000 qualified students in over 2,800 programs nationally. TRIO programs provide academic tutoring, personal counseling, mentoring, financial guidance, and other supports necessary for educational access and retention. In collaboration with UMFK, UMPI hosts two Upward Bound programs and an Educational Talent Search Program, serving 629 students annually who are in grades 6-12 and from all Aroostook County school systems. Both UMPI and UMFK, along with Northern Maine Community College, host TRIO Student Support Services programs.
In Maine, 25 percent of adults ages 25 to 64 hold bachelor’s degrees, compared with 35 percent of all New Englanders. In Aroostook County, only 12-15 percent of working-age adults hold four-year degrees, depending on the municipality.
By helping to overcome the barriers faced by families with educational and economic disadvantages, TRIO programs in Maine help individuals and families improve their earning potential. Increasing the educational attainment of the population strengthens Maine’s educated workforce. Maine’s TRIO programs are a vital part of economic growth in Maine.
