“TRIO has made a major impact on me since high school. The resources that are available and the networking and family ties that come along with these programs are unmatched.”
Michael Rojas completed a dance performance Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at NIU and currently is a graduate student, studying higher education. Rojas participated in Student Support Services and Upward Bound TRIO programs at NIU and now works with Upward Bound for his graduate assistantship.
“I truly see the difference this program has on students like me who come from a first-generation household,” Rojas said. “TRIO helps you find your spark in life, and I’ve dreamed of working with TRIO as a career to give back.”
TRIO programs at NIU assist and support students and empower them to succeed. Established in 1964, TRIO programs nationwide have been instrumental in breaking down barriers to higher education, while evolving to meet the changing needs of students.
NIU’s Student Support Services program is designed to with the success of students in mind, to provide guidance and support and help students complete their degrees after enrolling at NIU, while equipping them with the tools needed to thrive in college and beyond.
Program features include:
- Individualized support
- Mentoring
- Career planning
- Tutoring
- Graduate school preparation
- Financial guidance
NIU’s Student Support Services program has served thousands of students since 1971. In addition to academic support, the program provides cultural enrichment activities and a parents’ support group.
Student Support Services participated in National TRIO Day Saturday, Feb. 22 at Northeastern Illinois University. The event celebrates success stories, while providing a forum to advocate for continued opportunities through TRIO programs. Additional events are planned this semester at NIU.
Students interested in receiving support from this program can fill out an application, contact 815-753-1867 or email fbohanon@niu.edu for more information.
Serving 120 Aurora and Rockford high school students each year, NIU’s Upward Bound program provides support and resources to help students graduate from high school, enroll in college and earn a degree. NIU’s program began in 1966 and has two primary components: a 26-week academic year component and an intensive six-week summer component at our DeKalb campus while students are in high school.
Upward Bound provides personal and academic counseling, college readiness workshops, test preparation, opportunities to visit colleges throughout Illinois and across the country, and assistance with completing college applications.
“TRIO helps ensure students have the best opportunity to succeed,” Felicia Bohanon, executive director of NIU’s Office of Precollegiate Programs said. “In the more than 30 years I have worked with TRIO programs, I know the difference the programs make not only on students, but also on families. It is a privilege to be able to work with students and their families before, during and after their high school and college experience and see them thrive.”
“My mentor Dr. Bohanon has known me for many years. She was the first to tell me college was truly an option, and here I am now in my master’s degree program,” Rojas said. “I wouldn’t be where I am today if I didn’t have the guidance and support that TRIO gave me.”
