Centralia College Receives $1.6 Million Federal Grant to Extend TRiO Student Support Services

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The U.S. Department of Education recently announced it has awarded Centralia College $1.6 million to support TRiO Student Support Services.

The money will be received over five years to help the support services, which focuses on first-generation, low-income and disabled college students.

“These funds allow Centralia College to provide critical support for students who might not be able to graduate and pursue their dreams without these additional services,” Centralia College President Robert Frost said in a press release. “Our TRiO staff has been incredibly successful in helping these students earn degrees, continue in higher education, and transform their lives.”

The grant was awarded after a highly competitive, nationwide application process and will provide personalized academic advising, tutoring, transfer and career planning, mentoring and specialized workshops and activities for up to 220 students annually.

Liisa Preslan, TRiO director at Centralia College, explained the mission of TRiO is to help students stay enrolled, succeed in their classes and graduate with a certificate or associate degree, or transfer to a four-year college or university. 



“Sometimes young people need a helping hand to tap into their full potential, and Centralia College offers that help to our community through the TRiO program,” Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Wash., said. “I want to congratulate Centralia College on receiving this federal grant to empower individuals — those who are either living with disabilities, coming from low-income circumstances, first-generation college students or overcoming other challenges — and achieve and sustain successful lives.”

TRiO Student Support Services assisted 241 students in the 2013-14 academic year at Centralia College. Of those, 63 percent graduated and 56 percent transferred to a four-year college. Overall, 86 percent of TRiO participants stayed in college from one year to the next.

“Winning a $1.6 million dollar grant to fund these services for the next five years is a huge accomplishment, and speaks volumes about the talented people working in the TRiO program,” Robert Cox, vice president of Student Services, said.

For more information on TRIO programs, call (360) 736-9391, ext. 201 or visit www.centralia.edu/students/TRiO.