Owensboro Community and Technical College receives Federal TRIO Student Support Services grant

Owensboro Community and Technical College has received a Federal TRIO Student Support Services grant in the amount of $1.36 million. For the next five years, the school will receive funding to continue its student support services, which include tutoring, academic advising, cultural activities, and more.

According to an article on Owensboro Community and Technical College’s website, Dr. Scott Williams, the college’s president, was quoted as saying, "We are very excited to be awarded the funds for continued support of our TRiO program. It is a testament to the hard work of the TRiO staff and the strength of the program. Their retention and graduation rates are stellar and that only proves that they really are helping students succeed. While they do have a limited number of students in TRiO, the programming they offer benefits all of our students who are willing to take advantage of it."

OCTC's TRiO Student Support Services program is funded entirely through federal funding. The program is focused on providing support for students who come from low-income backgrounds, those with disabilities, and those who are first-generation college students, with the goal of increasing student success. The program offers academic advising, assistance with financial aid, tutoring, cultural enrichment activities, and more.

Becky Hodskins, who has been the director of TRiO Student Support Services since 2017, said, "The goal of our program is to assist in reducing barriers that may hinder students from successfully completing classes, graduating, and/or transferring to a 4-year institution.”

With this newest round of funding, the program aims to support 144 students each year. Currently, the program’s team is looking to fill 70 spots that have been vacated due to graduation.

For more information about Owensboro Community and Technical College, visit the school’s website.