TRIO

Grand Forks, ND March, 2011: An alum of the University of North Dakota alumni was honored recently at the state conference for TRIO Professionals in Bismarck, Heidi Demars received the North Dakota ASPIRE TRIO Achievers Award.

“I began my educational journey in a small town in ND. I was curious and shy as a child and enjoyed learning new things. I always knew I was destined for something more, I just didn’t know what.,” said Demars.

Demars is an Outreach Coordinator for the Dakota Resource Council which is a nonprofit where she is responsible for fundraising, coordinating outreach events, and communications. She graduated from a small town in North Dakota, following graduation she bought a one-way ticket to Alaska. While in Alaska she was a nanny to a boy with special needs, this opened her eyes to seeing the positive impact his special education team had on him each day. Heidi then understood the importance of a college education.

Demars moved back to North Dakota and began school, this is where she was connected to the TRIO Student Support Services program at the University of North Dakota. She graduated from UND Magna Cum Laude, received a NextGen award, and a scholarship for her outstanding leadership qualities. She was also recognized for a garden project that she created. Demars currently lives in Bismarck with her husband and two children.

Previous recipients of the North Dakota ASPIRE TRIO Achievers award include, Amy Fisher and Josh Nichols.

GRAND FORKS – Federal TRIO Programs have provided the path to success for more than two million students since beginning in 1965. To honor the students who have succeeded in college and those who are currently working hard to reach their academic goals, University of North Dakota TRIO Programs celebrated National TRIO Day on Thursday, February 10, 2011.

Awards were presented to students and alumni of UND TRIO programs, and to a representative of a UND department who has contributed outstanding support to TRIO Programs.

Paul Johnson (Student Support Services participant) received the Outstanding TRIO/Student Support Services Award, which is given to a UND student participating in that program who has achieved academic success.

Kathy Langowski (former TRIO/Upward Bound and Student Support Services participant), received the Outstanding UND TRIO Alumni Award, which is given to honor educational and career success by alumni of UND TRIO Programs.

Mark Thompson, Director of Career Services at UND, was given the Friend of TRIO award for his long-time support of UND TRIO Programs and students.

Part of the luncheon program was devoted to student speakers who described their experience in each of the five UND TRIO Programs. The students representing the programs included: Rhonnae Antell, Talent Search student; Jewel Azure, Upward Bound student; Frank Decouteau, Educational Opportunity Center student; and Enoch Hankerson, Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate student.

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University of North Dakota Trio Programs, Cara Davis received the Rising Star Award at the ASPIRE Regional conference held October 10th through the 13th in Cheyenne, Wyoming. The Rising Star Award is presented to a member of ASPIRE who has worked for a TRIO program for less than one to two years and has excelled at providing services to TRIO and/or ASPIRE at the local, state, or regional levels. Cara is an Instructor Coordinator/ Advisor for the University of North Dakota Upward Bound TRIO Program.

Two University of North Dakota alumni were honored recently at the regional conference for TRIO Professionals in Cheyenne, WY. Amy Fisher and Robert Hewitt received the ASPIRE TRIO Achievers Award.

“I want all women to know their worth and that they too can walk into TRIO and say ‘I want to go to college, please help me,’ and I want them to know that TRIO will help them,” said Fisher.

Fisher is an advocate and volunteer for the Grand Forks Community Violence Intervention Center.. Fisher, a single mother, earned her degree in social work and has gone on to work for the CVIC. She has volunteered hundreds of hours educating others on domestic violence and what they can do to help those trapped in this situation. She has served on statewide committees and groups.

“Amy is a compassionate, intelligent, hardworking, and courageous woman. She has taken a horrific experience and turned it into something that will improve countless lives. I am truly inspired by her journey,” said Kristi Hall-Jiran, Executive Director of the CVIC.

Hewitt is the supervisor of waste management and recycling and coordinator of environmental safety at Altru Health Systems in Grand Forks. Robert received his degree in Occupational Safety and Environmental Health from Industrial Technology at UND. Hewitt was involved in acquiring safety grant funding for Altru and reduced patient lifting injuries by 50 % which not only reduced insurance premiums for the hospital, but made the employees safer at the workplace.
Hewitt is an advocate for TRIO students and programs, he served as a motivational speaker for TRIO students and alum. In addition, he taught computer courses for the Veteran Upward Bound TRIO program at the University of North Dakota.

“Robert fearlessly overcame all of the obstacles inherent in the college experience of an adult student including a physical disability,” said Cheryl Kingsbury, Hewitt’s former advisor at TRIO.

The University of North Dakota TRIO Programs will be hosting a TRIO Alumni reunion on May 8th. The event will be held at the UND International Center.

This will be agreat time to come together to visit other students and staff from the TRIO program they participated in- if you are interested please contact Elaine Metcalfe via e-mail or call 701-777-3819.

More information about the event will be posted soon.

Thank you!

We hope to see you there!

Federal TRIO Programs have provided the path to success for more than two million students since beginning in 1965. To honor the students who have succeeded in college and those who are currently working hard to reach their academic goals, University of North Dakota TRIO Programs celebrated National TRIO Day on Thursday, February 11, 2010.

United States Congressman Earl Pomeroy spoke at the event, “Higher education is basically a gateway but also a gauntlet, and it is particularly a gauntlet for navigating through extraordinary challenges… that’s why these TRIO Programs are so important,” said Pomeroy.

Awards were presented to students and alumni of UND TRIO programs and to UND Assistant Vice President of Research & Education, Grants and Contracts Administration, David Schmidt, and Dr. Douglas Munski, UND Geography professor.

Page Nickelson (former TRIO/Upward Bound and Student Support Services participant) received the Outstanding TRIO/Student Support Services Award, which is given to a UND student participating in that program who has achieved academic success.

Douglas Osowski, UND Staff (former TRIO/Student Support Services participant) and Shannon Fox (former TRIO/Upward Bound participant), received the Outstanding UND TRIO Alumni Award, which is given to honor educational and career success by alumni of UND TRIO Programs.

Part of the luncheon program was devoted to student speakers who described their experience in each of the five UND TRIO Programs.  The students representing the programs included:  John Wilebski, Talent Search student; Casey Johnson, Upward Bound student; Kfayah Alniemy, Educational Opportunity Center student; Page Nickelson, Student Support Services student; and Amber Annis-Bercier, Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate student.

David Schmidt was recognized with the Advocate for UND TRIO Award, which is given in recognition of strong advocacy for and commitment to the mission of TRIO Programs, which is equal educational access.

Dr. Douglas Munski, was honored with the Friend of UND TRIO Award, which is given in recognition of outstanding service in support of TRIO Programs and their students.

Derek Sporbert and Cheryl Kingsbury

Cheryl Kingsbury, Advisor/Instructor for University of North Dakota TRIO/Student Support Services, was the recipient of the Art Quinn Memorial Award at the Aspire Regional Conference in Spearfish, South Dakota October 6, 2009.

The prestigious award is the highest given by the Aspire TRIO Personnel Association, in recognition of outstanding service and advocacy for TRIO students and programs on local, regional and national levels.

Federally funded TRIO Programs are committed to Educational Opportunity for Low-Income and Disabled Americans. Aspire is formerly known as the Association of Special Programs in Region Eight. ASPIRE, Inc. has matured into a professional organization serving over 500 staff members in 127 projects.

TRIO Day 2009

UND TRIO Celebrating Our Student’s Success

Since 1965 an estimated two million students have graduated from college with the special assistance and support of our nation’s TRIO Programs.  To honor the students who have succeeded in college and those who are currently working hard to reach their academic goals, UND TRIO Programs celebrated National TRIO Day on Tuesday, February 10, 2008.

Awards were presented to UND Vice President Robert Boyd, UND Staff, students and alumni of TRIO programs at UND.

UND President Robert Kelley spoke at the event, “We would like to give a great big thank you to all the hard work behind our TRIO programs, that are accomplished by our staff and faculty mentors,” said Kelley.

Boyd was recognized with the Advocate for UND TRIO Award, which is given in recognition of strong advocacy and commitment to the mission of TRIO Programs, which is equal educational access.

“If there is any one place on campus that consistently helps make dreams come true, it is certainly the TRIO programs,” said Boyd. Boyd was honored for his contributions to TRIO programs including, program enhancing activities, technology resources, office space, and program evaluations.

Delilah Yellow Bird (former Upward Bound participant) and Dr. Roxanne Jonas (former Student Support Services participant), received the Outstanding UND TRIO Alumni Award, which is given to honor educational and career success by a former participant in UND TRIO Programs.

Suzanne Belyea, UND Housing was honored with the Friend of UND TRIO Award, which is given in recognition of outstanding support for TRIO Programs operations given by a UND staff person.

Lynelle Smith received the Outstanding TRIO/Student Support Services Award, which is given to a UND student participating in that program who has achieved academic success.