TRIO prepares students for college

The TRIO program on  our campus helps many students prepare for college. Students get help with scholarships, applications, and how to choose schools.

Sixty years ago, TRIO was started as a federally funded program to help students to be the first in their family to go to college. It includes Upward Bound and IRCO, and the “trio” refers to Educational Talent Search, which serves middle and high school students through MHCC;  Upward Bound, through the non-profit organization IRCO; and Student Support Services, which continue serving students through college to complete their bachelor’s degrees. 

TRIO Educational Talent Search Coordinator Erik Ruch has an office in room 170A, by the computer labs in the hall between the English hallway and the cafeteria. He is at the school on Mondays and Tuesdays. He’s been working with the school district for 12 years, supporting first generation students preparing for college. 

Ruch helps students with academic skills such as using flash cards, when to study, taking practice quizzes, and how to work with other students and with teachers. He also teaches students about the different kinds of colleges they might end up applying for, and helps them with the FAFSA. TRIO also helps with applying for scholarships and career exploration. Ruch is with the Educational Talent Search TRIO program

“My job as an advisor is to support students,” said Ruch. “My job is not to tell people where to go. My job is not to tell people what to do. In the end, this is an achievement from the student. This is something they’ve accomplished and I’m just here to support them.”

TRIO works with 500 students in the David Douglas, Centennial, and Gresham-Barlow school districts. Students who have worked with TRIO have gone to 77 different schools including Ivy League schools like Harvard, Brown, Yale, Pennsylvania and Columbia. If he ever gets enough time, Ruch hopes to put up a map of the United States up on his wall in his office so then he can mark the places his students have gone to or are going to. 

“I really encourage you to get in the habit of identifying people that you can go to with questions, and speaking out for yourself when you can to seek out support,” said Ruch. “We all need help. This whole society only functions because we help each other. The media gives the message that you have to do everything yourself, but people who succeed have received a lot of help. The principal of the school has received help from many people. Your teachers have received help from many people, just as you all are getting help from many people, and some day you, if you’re not already, will be helping others. So don’t be afraid to ask for help.”

Students interested in signing up for TRIO can go to room 170A to pick up an application or apply online at www.mhcc.edu/student-resources/trio/trio-ets/.