National TRIO Achiever Award - Council for Opportunity in Education

Celebrate the extraordinary impact of TRIO alumni

COE seeks nominations for the 2025 National TRIO Achiever Awards.

Discover the electrifying bond that unites an astronaut, a prestigious actress, a visionary college president, and a dynamic TV producer – they’ve all ascended to the pinnacle of achievement as National TRIO Achievers! Nominate a TRIO alum to join the exhilarating journey as the Council prepares to laud a fresh constellation of extraordinary luminaries during the electrifying September 2025 Annual Conference in the vibrant heart of Chicago. Don’t miss your chance to ignite the spark of greatness! The 2025 call for nominations is officially live. Be the catalyst of change and nominate the next Trailblazer right here, but hurry, the opportunity vanishes like stardust on Friday, March 28, 2025!

NOMINATE HERE

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 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.

PAST RECIPIENTS

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

Maura Casey

2023 National TRIO Achiever Awards: Honoring the Journeys and Impact of Distinguished Alumni

September 13, 2023

Five outstanding TRIO alumni were honored with the 2023 National TRIO Achiever Awards at COE’s annual conference. Cheryl L. Johnson, James T. Brett, Fernando Cárdenas, Lesia Crumpton-Young, and Ruben Canedo shared inspiring stories of how TRIO programs like Upward Bound played a pivotal role in their success, emphasizing the importance of investing in education and advocating for programs like Head Start, Talent Search, and Student Support Services to provide greater returns than taxpayer dollars spent on juvenile detention facilities.

Maura Casey

2022 National TRIO Achievers Tell Tales of Triumph Over Adversity

September 24, 2022

The TRIO Achiever Award honors the accomplishments after college of individuals who obtained a degree with the help of one of the eight federal TRIO programs for low-income, first-generation students.

News & Impact

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