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The Council for Opportunity in Education Announced 2024 National TRIO Achiever Award Recipients

August 9, 2024 — by Terrance L. Hamm

These outstanding alumni of the Federal TRIO Programs have demonstrated exemplary leadership, dedication, and commitment to advancing educational opportunities and breaking barriers for underserved students.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Council for Opportunity in Education (COE) announced today the six distinguished recipients of the 2024 National TRIO Achiever Award. This prestigious award honors exceptional individuals who have participated in Federal TRIO Programs and have made significant contributions to their professions and communities. The awardees were celebrated at the 2024 Educational Opportunity Awards Dinner during the COE Annual Conference in New York City on Tuesday, September 10.

The National TRIO Achiever Award recognizes outstanding alumni from the Federal TRIO Programs, which include Upward Bound, Upward Bound Math-Science, Talent Search, Student Support Services, Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement, Veterans Upward Bound, and Educational Opportunity Centers. These programs provide educational support to students from low-income, first-generation backgrounds, helping them to succeed in higher education and beyond.

Council for Opportunity in Education President Kimberly Jones said, “Each of these outstanding individuals embodies the spirit and impact of the TRIO programs. Their dedication to educational equity, community service, and leadership is a powerful example of what TRIO alumni can achieve. We are immensely proud to honor them as 2024 National TRIO Achievers and celebrate their remarkable contributions to society.”

The 2024 National TRIO Achiever honorees were:

  • Michael S. Cashman, a dedicated public servant and educational advocate, attributes much of his success to the SUNY Plattsburgh TRIO Student Support Services program. His leadership has driven positive change and fostered a spirit of inclusivity and progress in his community; he serves as the Town Supervisor of Plattsburgh, New York.
  • DeRionne P. Pollard, an alumna of the TRIO Student Support Services program at Iowa State University, is celebrated for her leadership and dedication to educational equity. She is the first permanent Black woman president of Nevada State University and any institution within the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE).
  • Gabriel Reyes, an alumnus of the TRIO Upward Bound program at the University of New Mexico, has dedicated his career to supporting students furthest from academic opportunities. Recognizing the critical need for increased representation of scientists from low-income backgrounds, he founded FLi Sci to address this disparity. FLi Sci’s mission is to empower first-generation or low-income (FLi) students of color to pursue careers in science and medicine.
  • New York City Council Member Pierina Ana Sanchez represents the 14th district in the Bronx and is a proud alumna of the Bronx Community College TRIO Upward Bound program. Her career in public service has been marked by advocacy for immigrant families, racial justice, affordable housing, and community investments.
  • CEO of Blueprint Strategy, Antjuan Seawright, an alumnus of the TRIO Upward Bound program at Midlands Technical College, has made significant strides in his professional and personal life, advising local, state, and national campaigns across America. His success story is a testament to the impact of the TRIO programs.
  • Scott Winton, an alumnus of the TRIO Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program at the University of Missouri, has significantly contributed to U.S. diplomacy and international relations. As a seasoned U.S. Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. Department of State, Winton’s 15 years of dedicated service have spanned Latin America, the Caribbean, and Europe.

Past recipients of the National TRIO Achiever Award include renowned figures such as actress and producer Viola Davis, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock, New York Times best-selling author Sarah Smarsh, and retired NASA astronaut José Hernández. The 2024 Educational Opportunity Awards Dinner was hosted by former National TRIO Achiever Award recipient John Quiñones, news correspondent and host of ABC’s What Would You Do?

Please visit coenet.org for more information about the National TRIO Achiever Award or to purchase tickets to the 2025 Educational Opportunity Dinner.

Media Inquiries

For media inquiries or to arrange an interview, please contact Terrance L. Hamm, associate vice-president for communications and marketing at COE via email at [email protected] or call (202) 347-7430.

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