Council for Opportunity in Education

TRIO Future Leaders Summit

The Council for Opportunity in Education (COE) is excited to host the inaugural TRIO Future Leaders Summit in Washington, D.C., from April 13-17, 2025. This powerful event will bring together 30 selected TRIO college students from across the United States and its territories to elevate their leadership skills, expand career opportunities in public policy, and connect with influential policymakers.

APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN

Are you ready to make an impact in public policy and create real change?

This isn’t just a conference. The TRIO Future Leaders Summit is your launchpad into the world of public policy. Imagine yourself networking with top policy experts, meeting members of Congress, and brainstorming solutions to real-world issues with students like you. The TRIO Future Leaders Summit is about more than just the skills you’ll put on your résumé—it’s about finding your place in public policy and discovering how to make a difference. Apply before Friday, December 13, 2024, to take your place among the next generation of policy leaders.

  • Please see the application handbook for more information about the summit and instructions for completing the application.
  • This document helps students identify funds to support their participation and students can download a sample donation request letter here.

Please contact COE Director of Student Opportunities Angela L. Holley via e-mail or phone at (202) 347-7430 if you have any questions.

APPLY HERE
KEY PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

We’re looking for driven TRIO students who want to make an impact. If you’re an undergraduate sophomore, junior, or senior active in TRIO Student Support Services or the TRIO McNair Postbaccalaureate program, this summit is for you. You should have: A minimum 3.0 GPA; leadership experience or an interest in political science, public policy, or related fields; and a passion for advocacy and public service. All majors are welcome—if you’re ready to be a change-maker, we want to hear from you!

The week is packed with opportunities to grow, network, and be inspired: Day 1: Start with an evening social to connect with your cohort and kick off this exciting journey. Day 2: Explore workshops on the impact of educational policy, build networking skills, and meet TRIO alumni who are already shaping policy on Capitol Hill. Day 3: Gain insight into imposter syndrome, learn about internship opportunities, attend a graduate school fair, and connect with professionals who can guide your future. Day 4: Take your ideas to Capitol Hill! Present your case study analysis and meet with senators and representatives to discuss real issues. Day 5: Head back home ready to make an impact with new knowledge, skills, and connections.

The registration fee is $2,000 per student and covers: Ground transportation throughout D.C.; lodging and all meals during the event; fees for activities, educational resources, and cultural excursions. Students are responsible for travel costs to and from Washington, D.C., and meals during transit. We also offer the sample donation request letter above to help you secure funding for this life-changing experience.

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Get in Touch

Questions? Contact Director of Student Opportunities Angela L. Holley.

Angela L. Holley

Director, Student Development Services [email protected]

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ADDITIONAL OPPRTUNITIES

COE will invite applications for these additional opportunities soon.

COE has seasonal student opportunities for TRIO high school and undergraduate students and recent TRIO graduates. Get notified when COE seeks future cohorts for the opportunities below.

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Each summer, COE hosts more than 150 TRIO high school student delegates from Upward Bound, Upward Bound Math-Science and Talent Search programs across the United States and territories to participate in a rigorous 6-day leadership experience in Washington, D.C. During the Leadership Congress, the delegates sleep, study, and dine on the campus of American University.  In addition to meeting their Senators and Representatives on Capitol Hill, delegates participate in community service projects, conflict resolution workshops, and spend much of the program engaged in a Mock Congress. This requires students to research critical policy issues, draft legislation, and debate their peers with their assigned team.

A paid internship opportunity lasting four to six months is awarded each year to a graduating senior or recent college graduate who has participated in a federal TRIO program. The program includes an internship in a Congressional office preceded by several weeks in COE’s Washington, DC office. The internship is named for the late Thomas R. Wolanin, former staff director of the Subcommittee on Post- Secondary Education in the U.S. House of Representatives, a champion of access and affordability in postsecondary education, and a committed advocate for first-generation students.

The Keith Sherin Global Leaders Program was founded with the notion that all college students should have access to international experiences. The program supports the study of TRIO college students with demonstrated leadership skills in a three-to-four-week program. Since 2000, more than 350 low-income, first-generation college students and students with disabilities have participated in COE-sponsored short-term and semester study abroad programs in Great Britain, Mexico, the Netherlands, South Africa, and Spain.

Through the Keith Sherin Global Leaders Washington Semester Program, one high-achieving TRIO college student is selected each semester and supported with tuition, housing, and a small living stipend. The Washington, D.C. public policy program includes a semester of study at Marquette University’s Les Aspin Center and an internship placement in a Congressional office.

COE’s TRIO Career Development Program (TCDP) provides TRIO SSS and McNair students with access to competitive paid internships and jobs. TCDP builds professional skills, supports development through mentoring, provides connections to careers with top employers, and helps maximize their work experience. Students receive personalized mentoring and tools to develop and execute their career plans. After building valuable relationships, these students will be prepared to compete for highly sought-after positions with various public and private sector partners.

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Student Opportunities

Stay Connected

Learn more about how the Council for Opportunity in Education works in conjunction with colleges, universities, and agencies to help low-income students enter college and graduate.

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