CState TRIO students have received accolades and media attention
Several current students and recent graduates who participate in Cincinnati State’s TRIO Student Support Services programs (TRIO SSS) have gained attention for their career and academic achievements.
TRIO grant programs provide educational opportunity for low-income, first-generation students, and facilitate services to help these students achieve their academic goals. Grant funding comes from the U.S. Dept. of Education.
The “TRIO” name refers to the three federal programs that were authorized in 1968 to increase higher education access for economically-disadvantaged students: Upward Bound, Talent Search, and Student Support Services.
This summer, alumna Amanda Mills was featured in a Kentucky Spectrum TV story (click to view) about her work as a school nurse at Dater Montessori School. Amanda, a single mother of four sons, had to overcome challenges– including a car that kept breaking down– while earning her associate degree in Nursing.
After graduation, Amanda took a position in a hospital but eventually moved to school nursing through a position with the City of Cincinnati Health Department. Recently, Amanda was able to purchase a home for herself and her boys.
She said in the news story, “I feel more rewarded in this profession than anything, because I get to make a difference with children.” Both on the job and in her community, Amanda is always ready to provide encouragement to others, letting them know they can make it, too.
Another graduate, Lance Ross (photo above), was captured by College Digital & Web Manager Brittany King at the perfect moment during the May 2023 Commencement ceremony. Like many other students, Lance had to persevere to earn his Culinary degree, but assistance from TRIO Student Support Services helped him to graduate and continue toward his goal of opening his own restaurant in the future. His joy at Commencement reflected the feelings of many Cincinnati State students who work hard in order to celebrate success.
Talisha Chambers, a current Nursing student, was one of 35 recent recipients of a Bethesda Alumni Association Scholarship and she regularly earns Dean’s List recognition. Talisha also has a Tri-Health Student Nurse Internship position on the Labor and Delivery unit at Bethesda North Hospital, and is a Work-Study student in the TRIO SSS Office in Main 133.
Talisha also works as a Birth Doula. She said, “My goal is to help combat infant mortality and maternal death rates by helping the mothers understand their choices, and have the births they desire by advocating for my clients.”
Other TRIO SSS students have been featured in past Daily News stories about their accomplishments.
Jeanne Huynh, received one of the 2023 “Co-op Student of the Year” Scholarships for her achievements in experiential learning activities. (Click to read the article.) Jeanne is earning the Sustainable Horticulture degree and the Sustainable Agriculture Management Certificate. She completed co-op activities at Our Harvest Cooperative, a worker-owned cooperative farm that gives people access to healthy, locally-grown food.
Luis Mata joined other Construction Management students who represented Cincinnati at the 2023 Residential Construction Management Competition sponsored by the National Association of Home Builders. (Click to read the article.) The team prepared a construction management proposal for a single-family residential home, including drawings and details, a detailed cost estimate, a complete construction schedule, and a construction management plan, and presented their plan to a panel of industry professionals.
For more information about Cincinnai State’s TRIO SSS programs, visit the College Access Programs page of the College website.