The University of Notre Dame’s TRiO Programs will host the 15th annual conference for students and parents in honor of National TRiO Day Saturday (Feb. 25). National TRiO Day is an effort to bring awareness to the needs of first-generation, low-income students while celebrating the accomplishments of TRiO participants.
Nearly 300 students, many from underrepresented groups, and their parents are coming from around Indiana and the Chicagoland area for the conference, which is themed “Leaders in Training.” The conference begins at 9:30 a.m. in McKenna Hall with a college fair followed by a plenary session that includes institutional and community welcomes, a brief history of TRiO programs, remarks from elected officials and the keynote address. This year’s keynote speaker is Jewell Jones, Michigan’s youngest state representative at age 21.
Following the keynote address, participants will attend concurrent sessions offered on topics such as college and career readiness, financial literacy, branding and cultural competency. The conference will also feature author and youth advocate Renata Hannans.
The conference will conclude with a luncheon and awards ceremony at 12:45 p.m., which will include a feature presentation by Priscilla Quaye, a Notre Dame TRiO Upward Bound alumna and member of Notre Dame’s Class of 2018.
TRiO is a set of federally funded college opportunity programs that motivate and support students from disadvantaged backgrounds in their pursuit of a college degree. The programs provide academic tutoring, personal counseling, mentoring, financial guidance and other supports necessary for educational access and retention. Notre Dame’s TRiO Programs have served first-generation and low-income students since the 1960s.
Contact: Nijinsky Dix, TRiO, 574-631-6835, ndix@nd.edu