For Alumni

TRIO salutes the graduating class of 2023 as they join the alumni ranks of 6 million of their peers! Join us in recognizing their TRIO success!

Engage With Us on LinkedIn

Your New Hub for TRIO Networking

By joining the National TRIO Alumni Association’s LinkedIn group, you can connect with like-minded TRIO professionals and expand your network. You can find and interact with individuals who share your interests or work in your industry, which can lead to new business opportunities, job leads, and collaborations.

  • Learning opportunities: The NTAA LinkedIn group has discussions, articles, and other resources that can help you stay up-to-date with the latest trends and news in your industry. You can also ask questions and get advice from experienced professionals.
  • Exposure: By participating in group discussions and sharing your knowledge and expertise, you can increase your visibility on the platform. This can lead to more profile views, connection requests, and potential job opportunities.
  • Professional development: Get resources and discussions on topics such as career development, leadership, and professional skills. You can use these resources to improve your skills and advance your career.
  • Community: Feel a closer connection to your TRIO community of professionals who share your interests and goals. You can interact with others who are facing similar challenges and gain support and encouragement.
JOIN THE GROUP HERE

FOR THE CLASS OF 2023

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 Alumni Association (NTAA)

Upcoming Events

National TRIO Alumni Reception at Annual Conference 2023 (Monday, Sept. 11; Washington, D.C.)

RSVP HERE

TRIO Alumni As Advocates

Here’s how you can get involved

Take action and tell your Member of Congress how TRIO works! The Take Action Now page will allow you to send a message on current TRIO issues in Congress. Use the toolkit below to stay in constant contact with Congress at each point in the appropriations process.

LEARN MORE

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.

VIEW PAST RECIPIENTS

News & Impact

Latest Articles

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

Tommy Walls

Director, Alumni Relations

Tommy C. Walls, Jr. is a charismatic and innovative leader recently hired as the Director of Alumni Relations for the Council for Opportunity in Education. Walls obtained his BA degree in Social Welfare & Justice and graduated as a TRIO Upward Bound, Student Support Services, and Ronald E. McNair alumnus from Marquette University. Walls then graduated with an MSW (Master of Social Work), concentrating in advocacy, leadership, and social change from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Walls holds more than 13 years of nonprofit management, youth development, executive leadership development, and advocacy for at-risk, first-generation, and low-income students. Before COE, Walls was the executive director of Communities In Schools of High Point-North Carolina, Inc, a drop-out prevention program providing K-12 students and communities with the resources to become equitable and thriving. His perspective is to care for the whole person. He uses organization through an intrinsic lens to motivate others to fulfill their passions with integrity, humility, and poise. His innovative logic and strategies have provided more than 10,000 youth and executive professionals with the insight to become change agents and transformational leaders. Walls enjoys playing basketball, traveling, logic games, and enjoying time with family and friends. Walls is also a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Full Bio

Resources for Alumni

Get tools to support your involvement in TRIO advocacy, award recognition, or career opportunities.

By providing academic, financial, social, and cultural support, TRIO programs have allowed over 6 million low-income, first-generation students and students with disabilities to enter and graduate from college. TRIO alumni, we can connect with your state and regional liaisons and engage with alumni association activity at the state and regional levels.

REQUEST CONTACTS

Resources for TRIO Programs

In your program, do students see themselves as one day being part of the TRIO alumni community?

To help create a more robust network of TRIO alumni, the Council for Opportunity in Education created this toolkit to help TRIO programs get started in their efforts to organize alumni groups. Programs can use this worksheet to complete their unique alumni engagement plans.

DOWNLOAD THE TOOLKIT

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 800,000 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