Trio Kickoff 2 Our TRiO Student Support Services program hosted its fall semester Kickoff Celebration on September 5, 2014.

TRiO Student Support Services or “SSS” exists to help enhance the persistence and achievement rates of well over 300 of Skyline College’s low-income, disabled, and first-generation students who intend to graduate with an associate degree, and/or transfer into four-year colleges and universities. At the Kickoff Celebration, a cadre of SSS scholars were served a delicious pizza lunch and refreshments. SSS scholars participated in team-building activities and an opportunity drawing courtesy of our colleagues in the Skyline College Bookstore.

Trio Kickoff 2As well, at the celebration event, the newest members of our staff were introduced. Our counseling staff provided crucial updates to students and partnering programs in attendance showed their support. The programmatic updates largely centered on special events and services germane to student development including, but not limited to, campus visits to four-year institutions of higher education, mobilizing the community-oriented TRiO Club members and its newly elected governance body, the TRiO Scholarship award, cultural and leadership activities, and mentoring opportunities for academic as well as professional enrichment.

In concert with the host of student leaders who comprise TRiO SSS, we look forward to cultivating spaces of academic opportunity, cultural sharing, civic engagement and professional development as we advance the charge towards social equity and access embodied by Skyline College’s overall vision.

Skyline College TRiO Program is still admitting prospective SSS Scholars into their cohort for 2014-2015 academic year.  To obtain a TRiO SSS application, go to www.skylinecollege.edu/trio or come to the TRiO SSS office located in the Learning Center of Building 5. Complete and submit the application to our office. For more information, call (650) 738-4144.

Article by Arash Daneshzadeh