Photo courtesy of Shepherd University Front row, from left, are Latavia Smith, Charles Town; Martina Adams, Washington, D.C.; Madeline Tighe, Paw Paw; Jules Gamaleu, Burtonsville, Maryland; Fadela Belhaj, TRiO graduate assistant; Evora Baker, TRiO academic retention specialist; and Amanda Gentry, Wiley Ford. Back row, from left, are Michelle Ricketts, TRiO academic retention specialist; Cynthia Copney, director of TRiO; Molly Adams, Martinsburg; Lyvon Campbell, Loganville, Georgia; Tajmarie Rowe, TRiO senior administrative assistant; Lisa Butler, Charles Town; Katelyn Turner, Bloomery; Jade Dusci, Walkersville, Maryland; Kayla Eury, Keedysville, Maryland; Audrey Delos Santos, Boonsboro, Maryland; and Jacob Mellow, Harpers Ferry.

Shepherd University’s TRiO Student Support Services honored the program’s 2017 graduates during a reception April 20.

Jade Dusci, of Walkersville, Maryland, received the award for Highest GPA, Amanda Gentry, of Wiley Ford, received the Most Active Participant award, and each graduate was presented with a certificate and graduation cords for participating in TRiO. In addition, Dr. Laura Renninger, dean of Teaching, Learning, and Instructional Resources, was given a plaque for being a TRiO Champion. Five students were speakers, sharing their experiences in TRiO-Martina Adams, Washington, D.C.; Katelyn Turner, Bloomery; Lisa Butler, Charles Town; Jules Gamaleu, Burtonsville, Maryland; and Gentry.

TRiO is a federally funded grant program that offers assistance to help students succeed in college. The three program goals are to help students stay in school, to help them increase their grade point averages, and to graduate from college in four years. Services provided by TRiO include free tutoring, academic advising, financial and economic literacy assistance, help applying for graduate school, educational and cultural activities, workshops, career counseling, peer mentoring and a TRiO living learning community.