For Alumni

Are you ready to be part of something bigger? The National TRIO Alumni Association (NTAA) invites you to a realm of endless possibilities. Our mission transcends mere connections – we’re here to ignite the legacy of TRIO programs and kindle everlasting bonds among alumni, students, and partners.

represent the success of your program

Announcing the Call for 2026 National TRIO Achiever Nominations

COE is proud to announce that nominations are now open for the 2026 National TRIO Achiever Award—one of COE’s highest honors and a powerful testament to the impact of TRIO programs nationwide. Each year, COE shines a national spotlight on outstanding TRIO alumni whose lives and leadership demonstrate exactly what educational opportunity makes possible. From scientists and physicians to legislators, CEOs, educators, innovators, artists, and community builders, past Achievers have inspired millions by showing that TRIO works—because it worked for them. Nominate your exceptional TRIO alumni before Tuesday, March 31—and let their success shine.

Nominate Our Next Achiever Here
Reception

TRIO Alumni Reception

March 10, 2026, Washington, D.C.

At the reception, you’ll network with professionals across government, education, nonprofits, and the private sector; hear inspiring success stories from fellow TRIO alumni; and learn how to stay connected through the National TRIO Alumni Association (NTAA). From advocacy and mentorship to leadership opportunities, NTAA offers meaningful ways to give back and stay engaged year-round.
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We want to know more about you

Create or Update your TRIO alumni profile to share more details about your accomplishments and about the TRIO program you participated in.

We’ve transferred most TRIO alumni records from our old platform into a new system, so use the search module to find your alumni record in our new database and set a new password. No match? Click the button at the bottom of the page to create a new account. Update your basic information, such as current employer, and job title. From federal advocacy to mentorship, there are myriad ways to engage with the association. Tell us how you want to get involved! Enter details about your TRIO program and then that’s it! Once your new profile is saved, you can view and edit it as needed in the future.

CREATE OR UPDATE YOUR ALUMNI PROFILE

UNLOCK YOUR POTENTIAL AND STEP CONFIDENTLY INTO YOUR FUTURE

Upcoming Webinars for TRIO Alumni & TRIO Professionals

TAKE ACTION NOW

Your story can help save TRIO. Here’s how to take action—right now. Act today. Our future depends on it.

President Trump’s budget proposal threatens to eliminate the Federal TRIO Programs—programs that changed your life and continue to transform futures for nearly 870,000 students each year. This is our moment to fight back. We’ve outlined five simple but powerful actions you can take—call, write, post, and share—to help protect TRIO in the FY26 budget. TRIO helped you get to college. Now help us make sure it’s there for the next generation.

JOIN THE FIGHT HERE

News & Impact

Latest Articles

Unlock the Power of Connection

Download this comprehensive guide to help TRIO programs organize, inspire, and empower their alumni communities.

TRIO alumni are living proof of the transformative power of education. By creating opportunities for alumni to give back, mentor students, and advocate for TRIO, you’re not just strengthening your community—you’re ensuring TRIO’s legacy continues to thrive. This resource is perfect for TRIO program staff, alumni leaders, and volunteers ready to build vibrant networks and meaningful connections.

GET STARTED TODAY
What’s Inside the Toolkit?

Learn how to establish or revitalize your alumni chapter with detailed instructions on organizing leadership, creating events, and fostering connections.

Discover how to pair alumni with current students and design events that build professional and personal relationships.

Equip alumni to champion TRIO programs through storytelling, legislative engagement, and grassroots campaigns.

From pinning ceremonies to regional conferences, explore creative ways to celebrate and unite your alumni.

Amplify your alumni initiatives online with branding tips, content ideas, and engagement strategies.

Track your program’s impact with metrics and feedback tools to ensure sustainable success.

Upward Bound

Upward Bound

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Upward Bound Math-Science

Upward Bound Math-Science

Using a similar model to Upward Bound, Upward Bound Math-Science provides students with a rigorous math and science curriculum in high school to encourage and enable them to successfully major in critically important science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) disciplines in college. Currently, there are 211 projects serving more than 13,100 students. Indeed, 70% of Upward Bound Math-Science programs have postsecondary enrollments of 80% or higher.

Veterans Upward Bound

Veterans Upward Bound

The Veterans Upward Bound program provides intensive basic skills development and short-term remedial courses for military veterans to help them successfully transition to postsecondary education. Veterans learn to secure support from available resources such as the Veterans Administration, veterans associations, and various state and local agencies that serve veterans. There are 64 Veterans Upward Bound projects serving more than 8,400 students. According to the National Association of Veterans Upward Bound Program Personnel, in 2010-2011, more than 60% of recent program participants were enrolled in postsecondary education programs.

Student Support Services

Student Support Services

Student Support Services projects work to enable low-income students to stay in college until they earn their baccalaureate degrees. Participants, who include disabled college students, receive tutoring, counseling, and remedial instruction. More than 202,000 students are now being served by 1,069 Student Support Service programs at colleges and universities nationwide. Recent studies of Student Support Services found that program participation resulted in statistically significant higher student retention and transfer rates, improved grade point averages, and credit accumulation. Program participants also bested their similarly situated peers in degree completion at two-year colleges (41% vs. 28%) and four-year colleges (48% vs. 40%).

Educational Opportunity Centers

Educational Opportunity Centers

Educational Opportunity Centers serve displaced or underemployed workers from families. These Centers help individuals choose a college and a suitable financial aid program. There are 142 Educational Opportunity Centers in America, serving more than 199,000 individuals. A recent analysis of performance data of the Educational Opportunity Centers found that more than half (57.6%) of “college-ready” students enrolled in institutions of higher learning and 71% of eligible EOC participants (high school seniors, postsecondary dropouts) applied to college.

Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program

Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program

The Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement program encourages low-income students and minority undergraduates to consider careers in college teaching and prepare for doctoral study. Students who participate in this program are provided with research opportunities and faculty mentors. This program was named in honor of the astronaut who died in the 1986 space-shuttle explosion. Currently, there are 187 projects serving more than 5,200 students. According to recent performance data, in 2013-14, 69% of McNair participants who graduated in 2010-11 were enrolled in graduate school; meanwhile, 83% of students who first enrolled in graduate school in 2012-2013 persisted in their studies.

FOR THE CLASS OF 2026

As Graduation Season Nears, Be Sure to Plan Your TRIO Celebration

Graduating from high school or college is a significant achievement that deserves recognition and celebration. Your graduating TRIO students have worked hard and dedicated several years to their education, and acknowledging their efforts can be a great source of motivation and pride. We have attached some information on how your program might be able to launch such a celebration, including examples of how other TRIO programs celebrate their students’ academic success and how to use grant funds to purchase NTAA-branded graduation regalia.

SHOP TRIO REGALIA

Get TRIO Alumni Updates

Our in-person and online community allows TRIO alumni from around the world to connect and stay current with TRIO news and events; join local alumni groups; network with peers; and post, share, or browse career opportunities. Stay connected to receive updates on TRIO alumni networking events in your area, job and mentorship opportunities.

Keep In Touch

National TRIO Achiever Awards

Celebrating the Success of TRIO Students and the TRIO Programs

Celebrating the success of TRIO students and the TRIO programs, the Council for Opportunity in Education and members of the college access and success community are proud to honor the 2022 National TRIO Achievers. These men and women have distinguished themselves in their chosen professions and are making remarkable contributions to their community. The public recognition of TRIO alumni is an exceptional opportunity to acknowledge that TRIO makes a difference in the lives of thousands of students whose future success depends on their access to higher education. We congratulate this year’s TRIO Achievers and past award winners who continue to inspire both college access and success professionals and current students.

National TRIO Achiever Award

FACES OF TRIO

Have you completed your Faces of TRIO profile?

Share your TRIO story via COE’s Faces of TRIO and help COE raise awareness of the effectiveness of TRIO programs. Complete and share our short survey to help us capture more TRIO experiences. These alumni profiles will be shared across social media and on select TRIO Alumni Spotlights.

SHARE YOUR STORY

Trio programs

Who is Served

Federal TRIO Programs (Talent Search, Upward Bound, Upward Bound Math/Science, Veterans’ Upward Bound, Student Support Services, Educational Opportunity Centers, and the Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program) help students to overcome economic, social, academic, and cultural barriers to higher education.

LEARN MORE

faces of trio

Success Stories

Christina Westbrook

Student Support Services, Illinois State University

Colette Yellow Robe

Student Support Services, Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program, University of Nebraska – Lincoln

Edwin C. Serrano

Upward Bound Math-Science, University of Texas at Arlington

Gabrielle A. Davis

Upward Bound, Student Support Services, Talent Search, Southern Arkansas University

Jarell Green

Student Support Services, University of Nevada, Reno

Kel Bonton

Talent Search, COPE Inc.

Seth Fairchild

Upward Bound Math-Science, Southeastern Oklahoma State University

Tameka Ellington

Upward Bound, Cuyahoga Community College

Support Us

As a TRIO alumnus, you are a part of a TRIO legacy of success. Your support helps ensure the next 6 million students get the chance to achieve their dreams.

Donate

Partner with Us

As a part of our talented alumni network, there are many ways to get involved with COE and help increase college access and success for over 875,000 students each year.

LET’S CHAT

Join Us

Join COE and the National TRIO Alumni Association to engage, reconnect and network with thousands of alumni to further the success of TRIO graduates and students.

JOIN THE NTAA