Contact:

Laurie Mellas-Ramirez¸ 277-5915 Michael Martinez, 277-5813

February 20, 2002

TRIO DAY CELEBRATION SCHEDULED FOR MARCH 1 AT UNM

The University of New Mexico Special Programs in association with the New Mexico/West Texas Association of Student Assistance Programs will host the first statewide TRIO Day Celebration on Friday, March 1 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Auxiliary Gym Johnson Center.

TRIO was established in 1965 by the federal government to ensure equal educational opportunity for all regardless of income or race. TRIO offers educational opportunities for low income, first generation and disabled Americans.

Keynote speaker for the luncheon will be Dr. Arnold Mitchem, president of the Council for Opportunity in Education. Legislative and Congressional leaders and the executive cabinet from New Mexico are invited to attend.

TRIO Day was created by concurrent resolution in 1986 by the 99th United States Congress to recognize achievements of the TRIO programs around the nation. TRIO Programs are funded under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965. More than 1200 colleges and universities around the nation offer TRIO Programs. TRIO currently assists 746,000 students nationally, many of these students come from low-income families where the parents did not attend college and the average income is below $25,000 a year. The program also assists veterans with educational needs and currently there are 25, 000 United States veterans enrolled in the TRIO Program.

"We have over 30 TRIO programs in New Mexico and we serve thousands of students, keeping them in high school and college and helping them discover the excitement and fulfillment of academic success," said Nico Cameron, Director of TRIO Student Support Services/College Success Program, Eastern New Mexico University.

TRIO programs are comprised of the Talent Search, Upward Bound, Upward Bound Math/Science, Veterans Upward Bound, Student Support Services, Ronald E. McNair Post-baccalaureate Achievement Program and Educational Achievement Centers. Talent search and Upward Bound focus on students in grades six through twelve who appear to have the potential to attend college. Veterans Upward Bound provides short-term courses for military veterans to them enter post-secondary school. Student Support Services offers tutoring, counseling and remedial instruction to low-income college students. Ronald E. McNair post Baccalaureate Achievement programs encourage low-income minority undergraduates to enter into to teaching and doctoral studies. Each of these programs focuses ultimately on academic success for those who would otherwise not achieve it.

The New Mexico/West Texas Association of Student Assistance programs serve TRIO Programs in New Mexico and West Texas.

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The University of New Mexico
Public Affairs Department
Hodgin Hall, 2nd floor
Albuquerque, NM 87131-0011
Telephone: (505) 277-5813
Fax: (505) 277-1981