TRIO is a federally funded program to promote educational assistance, college access, and cultural enrichment to low-income and first-generation students. These programs are usually housed on college campuses with advisors who go into middle and high schools (Grades 6-12) to help supplement post-secondary planning. Iowa Lakes partners with North Union to offer two TRIO programs - Talent Search and Upward Bound. If a student is interested in participating, they need to fill out an application (with a parent) to see if they qualify; applications can be found at the links below (click on the underlined TRIO program to go to the website), by talking to a TRIO advisor when they are in the school building, or by seeing Miss Harle.
Meet with an advisor at school each month
Opportunity to go on college visits and cultural trips
Eligible for ACT/college application fee waivers
Free tutoring
Preferential consideration for the All Iowa Opportunity Scholarship ($4,000+ scholarship that is renewable up to eight semesters)
All of the benefits of Talent Search (college visits, cultural trips, ACT/application waivers, tutoring, preferential consideration for scholarship) PLUS:
Meet with an advisor once a week (rather than monthly) for tutoring and curriculum
Opportunity to participate in a six-week summer session on the Iowa Lakes campus (housed in dorm) to enhance skills in English, math, science, foreign language, etc.
Opportunity to take up to six hours of college classes the summer after high school graduation for free (a $1,200 value)
Can earn a small compensation for attending tutoring session throughout the year and over the summer
Students can continue to benefit from TRIO services throughout college in the form of Student Support Services. SSS provides extra help navigating college and tutoring services.