Mountain State Times

D&E Upward Bound Students Participate in WV TRIO Student Leadership Conference

Selected Davis & Elkins College Upward Bound Program participants recently attended the 22nd Annual WV TRIO Student Leadership Conference, held February 10-12 at the Days Inn Hotel & Conference Center in Flatwoods, WV.

Our nation has asserted a commitment to supplying educational opportunities for all Americans regardless of race, ethnic background, or economic circumstance. In support of this commitment, Congress set up a series of programs to help low-income Americans enter college, graduate, and move on to take part more fully in America’s economic and social life. These Programs are funded under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and are referred to as the TRIO Programs (initially just three programs). While student financial aid programs help students overcome financial barriers to higher education, TRIO programs help students overcome class, social and cultural barriers to higher education. Upward Bound (UB) is just one of those TRIO programs. Davis & Elkins College hosts three TRIO program grants: two UB programs, one grant targets Pendleton and Pocahontas Counties the other Barbour, Randolph, and Tucker Counties as well as a Veterans Upward Bound targeting veterans.

During the Student Leadership Conference, participants attended dynamic workshops that addressed communication skills, leadership styles, and strategies for effective problem-solving. They were provided the opportunity to network with fellow TRIO participants from West Virginia and Virginia; while learning best practices for promoting the program.

Kaylee Jennings wrote, “TRIO helped me tremendously. I want to be able to talk and get my story out there for future kids who don’t think they have a chance at pursuing their dreams of going to college and getting a further education!”

During the Crum Scholarship Banquet, WV TRIO and the D&E Upward Bound programs were pleased to honor and recognize Caressa Waybright, a junior at Elkins High School, and Sabina Leyzorek, a junior at Pocahontas County High School, were selected to be recipients of the Dr. Anne Crum Scholarship because of their dedication to the D&E Upward Bound programs and their commitment to success. The scholarship is in honor of Dr. Anne Crum who was the Director of the Davis & Elkins College Upward Bound Programs until her battle with cancer ended in 1999.

Original source can be found here