National TRIO Day is Feb. 25. The day was established in 1986 to focus on the TRIO programs that help disadvantaged overcame barriers to post-secondary education.

The 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) have been providing valuable supportive services to students to help them successfully enter college and graduate for over 45 years.

Forward Service Corporation’s Upward Bound North program has been serving area school districts since 1995. Staff works with first generation, low-income 9-12 grade students in the Crandon, Elcho, Laona, Rhinelander, Three Lakes and Wabeno school districts. Upward Bound advisors meets weekly with students at their high schools, provides special field trips and events, and coordinates a six week summer program at UW-Marathon County in Wausau. Megan Sprenger, a senior at Crandon High School, said “Upward Bound has helped me prepare for college life and has helped me to pursue my dreams.”

According to Dr. Arnold Mitchem, president of the Council for Opportunity in Education, an education association which represents TRIO students, college graduates, and professionals nationwide, “These programs work because they are run at the local level, student-centered, performance-based, and non-bureaucratic,” he said.

Today more than 1,200 colleges, universities, and community agencies host more than 2,900 TRIO projects that serve approximately 850,000 young people and adults. TRIO services include assistance in choosing a college; tutoring; personal and financial counseling; career counseling; assistance in applying to college; workplace and college visits; special instruction in reading, writing, study skills, and mathematics; assistance in applying for financial aid; and academic support in high school or assistance to re-enter high school.

For more information on Forward Service Corporation’s Upward Bound North program, and how your child can become involved, call Erika Warning at (715) 478-5480 ext. 24, or email ewarning@fsc-corp.org.