News

 On Saturday, Feb. 28, students and staff from Southeast Community College, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Peru State, and Doane University celebrated the 40^th anniversary of National TRIO Day. The celebration, which is annually celebrated on the fourth Saturday in February, raised awareness about the importance of educational opportunities in first-generation and low-income students, as well as students with disabilities.

At the event, held at UNL, participants learned about advocacy and wrote post cards to their congressmen. Students also took part in a community service project, where they made toys for cats and dogs at the Capital Humane Society.

Alaina Davis and Donelle Heitman, who are both studying human services at SCC, attended the event and reflected on how TRIO has impacted their education.

“It was absolutely incredible,” Davis said. “Seeing these little middle schoolers running around, and I was just so excited for them, because that’s a whole generation where their lives can be changed.”

Davis and Heitman are both non-traditional students who take part in TRIO. Davis is from Scottsbluff, where she struggled to continue her education due to several outside factors.

“I kind of thought that school wasn’t for me,” said Davis. “I didn’t think I was smart enough. I didn’t think I could achieve it.”

Sarah Aguirre, SCC TRIO director and Anna Rickords, a TRIO student success coach, helped Davis from the very beginning.

“Sarah and Anna have always believed in me,” Davis said. “I remember when I first met with Sarah, she said ‘What are your four-year plans?’ I laughed, I simply wanted to complete my degree and go work.”

But after visiting Nebraska Wesleyan last year, that changed.

“I will never forget realizing I can do this. This is accessible for me,” Davis said.

Now, Davis plans on transferring to Wesleyan to get her degree in social work.

At TRIO Day, Davis received the Heart of TRIO Award, which recognizes a student that exemplifies the values of TRIO by advocating for themselves and others.

“A key to success is community,” said Davis. “And that is something that TRIO programs give students. It's built-in community, and that lays the foundation. They believed in me—and do believe in me—when I don't believe in myself.”

Heitman, who attended high school in Scottsbluff at the same time as Davis, took part in TRIO’s high school program Upward Bound. She grew up in South Los Angeles, and her housing was unstable, until she moved in with her grandma at age 14.

“It was my first stable home,” Heitman said. “I was able to join Upward Bound, and suddenly a college education was possible. I was able to do so many cool things.”

Now, she’s involved with TRIO on campus, and is on the same path to Wesleyan as Davis.

“TRIO really just made it possible for me to reach my goals,” Heitman said. “Doors are back open again, it’s a great support system.”

Damon Bennett
Activities Information Director
402-437-2077
dbennett@southeast.edu