Issue date: 2/26/09 Section: Campus News

Media Credit: Breann Schossow High school students gather in the Alumni Room for "True Colors," one of the breakout sessions offered after the TRIO Day 2009 Awards ceremony. Pattie See, senior student services coordinator in the Academic Skills Center, led the event.

"You cannot have equal opportunity without equal access to education and opportunity," said Kimamo Wahome, program director of Upward Bound. Wahome helped host a reception for TRIO Day Tuesday night in Davies Center.

Wahome said the TRIO programs fulfill that part of the American dream.

The TRIO programs are designed to help students who are financially disadvantaged, have a learning disability or are first-generation college students, said Bruce Ouderkirk, director of Student Support Services. The programs are funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education.

Ouderkirk led a reception Tuesday afternoon to honor national TRIO Day. Awards were handed out to recognize students who displayed leadership in the four TRIO programs at UW-Eau Claire. The programs available are Upward Bound, Student Support Services, Education Opportunity Centers and Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement.

This is the seventh year the university has had a TRIO Day, Ouderkirk said. The directors of the TRIO programs at Eau Claire received recognition from the Eau Claire City Council Feb. 10.

"It's important to recognize the work that the programs do and their service to the community," Wahome said. "It's wonderful that the city is recognizing the work."

Ouderkirk said the purpose of TRIO Day is to draw attention to the need to provide educational opportunities to disadvantaged people. He said it's important so everyone has the equal chance to get an education and further their career and personal goals.

Senior James Little, a student that Ouderkirk said has grown in the SSS program, said he probably wouldn't be at college if it weren't for SSS. He said he looked to SSS for support when he struggled freshman year. Little received the Dedication Award at the ceremony.

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