TRIO Scholars Program
The TRIO Scholars Program (or TRIO for short) is a student support services (SSS) program and scholar community, designed to provide support, guidance, resources, and opportunities that help our students thrive in college and prepare for their futures. Our goal is to help each of our TRIO Scholars reach their full potential, both in college and as they prepare for post-graduate life.
Through personalized meetings with expert advisors, workshops and hands-on learning opportunities, self-guided learning tools, career coaching planning, and unique cultural and educational travel opportunities, TRIO helps its participants make friends and campus connections, strengthen their academic skills, develop their personal financial knowledge, overcome the challenges that come with day-to-day life, manage their personal wellness, and prepare for their future after college.
The TRIO Scholars Program is funded by a US Department of Education Student Support Services (SSS) grant.
Hector Balderas, Attorney General, New Mexico, Student Support Services, New Mexico Highlands University
Cardi B, Rapper, songwriter, Upward Bound
Franklin Chang-Diaz, First Hispanic Astronaut and Chairman and CEO, Ad Astra Rocket Company, Student Support Services, University of Connecticut
Viola Davis, Academy, Emmy, and Tony Award-Winning Actress, Student Support Services and Upward Bound, Rhode Island College
Patrick Ewing, Olympian, NBA player, basketball coach, Upward Bound
A.C. Green, Former NBA Player, Student Support Services, Oregon State University
José M. Hernandez, Former Astronaut, NASA, Student Support Services, University of the Pacific
Gwendolynne Moore, U.S. House of Representatives, Wisconsin — 4th Congressional District (2005 to Present), Student Support Services, Marquette University
Harry Lee Williams, President and CEO, Thurgood Marshall College Fund, Student Support Services, Appalachian State University
Oprah Winfrey, Talk show host, journalist, and author, Upward Bound
TRIO pairs each participant with an advisor who customizes services to meet their student's unique needs. Some of our most popular services include:
Each year, the TRIO program strives to ensure the success of our participating students and is tasked with meeting the following goals:
The US Department of Education has established the following eligibility criteria for participation in a TRIO SSS program:
Students must also meet any one or more of the following criteria:
The TRIO Team invites you to submit an application to become a TRIO Scholar! To apply, please complete the online application found by clicking the link below. You can also pick up a paper copy of the application in the TRIO Scholars Office, located in the Student Success Center on the 2nd Floor of the McKelvey Campus Center.
Please note that you may need to gather additional information and documents to help you complete the application. Once we receive your application, the TRIO team will review your materials, contact you with any questions, and provide an admission decision as soon as possible. If you are eligible and selected to join the Program, we will contact you to schedule a program orientation and meeting with your TRIO Advisor.
The TRIO Scholars Program at Westminster College is 100% federally funded at $272,364.00 for the 2023-2024 program year.