We need your help in making our program shine!!! This year we are celebrating the 50th Anniversary of TRIO Student Support Services programs nationwide. As a result of this celebration there is a competition taking place to highlight the impact that TRIO SSS programs have had in our communities. Miami Dade College TRIO SSS Homestead program submitted a video and it has passed on to finals. WOHOOOOOO!!!!!! There were 36 entries and only 5 finalists were selected. The next phase of the competition is based on a Social Media Campaign. From June 8 to July 6, the 5 videos are open for voting by the public. Forty percent of the final score will be determined by the number of likes accumulated on each video. WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT on liking theour video on the Homestead TRIO YouTube channel!!!
 
If they win this competition, the program will represent 1069 TRIO SSS programs nationwide. THIS IS SUCH AN AMAZING OPPORTUNITY TO PLACE OUR HOMESTEAD TRIO SSS PROGRAM IN THE US MAP!!! They will also have the opportunity to represent our program at a National TRIO Conference in September 2018.
 
Please help us by liking the video on the TRIO Homestead YouTube Channel and also by sharing the video with family, friends, and anyone else that wants to support our program. Promote the video far and wide.
 
Here is the link to the video: https://youtu.be/effsSs_pXOY (you will need a google/gmail account to access the “Like” option)
 
Remember, every “Like” counts!

Polk State College Students attended a residential STEAM Camp at Florida Polytechnic that included numerous high tech activities.  This week long experience featured CSI Simulation VR, Patella Repair Lab, 3d Lab, Physics roller coasters, robotics, DNA, Catapults and more.  You can view the slide show at animoto.com/play/uzId9jUyfgeao3C0xnw6gQ.

TRIO Student Support Services at Daytona State College in Daytona Beach, Florida celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Federal TRIO Student Support Services Program on April 20th during the 26th Annual Awards Ceremony. TRIO SSS has been an agent of change at Daytona State College for over 40 years, making life-altering contributions to the thousands of the students the program has served throughout the decades.
 
Also, please see a link of a video that was created especially for this event: https://youtu.be/bIkWEm8eoVA

Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) hosted the 48th Annual Florida TRIO Olympics on July 13-15.  About 10 pre-collegiate programs competed in the events, which included sports and academic activities such as basketball, volleyball, track, tennis, chess, checkers, public speaking, and scholar's bowl. University of South Florida Upward Bound brought home the most golds. FAMU, Tallahassee Community College, Indian River State College, Palm Beach State College, and Florida International University also made good showings. Pictures are available at https://photos.app.goo.gl/vha8NbktP4Q8DV4G3.

Today is the deadline for the Veterans Upward Bound Application. Good luck to all those who submit. Successful Candidates can look to Pensacola State Veterans Upward Bound as a Model for what works. Even non Veterans TRIO programs have a lot to learn from Director Rob Gregg. Below you will find an extensive news segment as well as a one minute showcase of the sole Veterans Upward Bound in the state. Thank your Mr. Gregg for serving veterans and the community.

Florida TRIO inducted the 2017-2019 Executive Board on March 30, 2017. Meet the New Board. President Jerinae Speed has already held a strategic planning Board Meeting in Orlando June 2, where experienced and new officers developed numerous initiatives and improvements. Stay Tuned to your Member at Large and Executive Board for opportunities never before offered at very low cost.

Florida TRIO professionals hosted Georgia and South Carolina for the Annual Tri-State Conference on March 27-30 with the theme TRIO Lifesavers: Anchoring Our Students Success in Society. Keynote Speaker Robert Taylor opened up the conference. The Gatsby Gala soon followed along with numerous workshops and plenaries equipping employees for student-centered engagement and empowerment. Florida TRIO 2017-2019 Executive Board members were also installed.

The Annual Student Leadership Conference was hosted in Orlando, FL on November 18-19, 2016 to celebrate the Florida TRIO family and create an opportunity for students and staff to network. This year’s conference brought in nearly 350 attendees, 25 programs, and 15 institutions from across the state of Florida representing the collegiate-level Student Support Services programs along with the pre-college Educational Talent Search and Upward Bound programs. The two-day event featured life skills and empowerment workshops for students coupled with hands-on training for staff. The featured keynote speaker, Keith L. Brown- “Mr. I’m Possible”, led an exhilarating opening session to lift students’ expectations of themselves to succeed and empower the staff working with them to see them all as scholars. He charged everyone to see that we are possible, our dreams are possible, and TRIO works!

The conference’s debate also proved to be a highlight of the event with five collegiate level teams competing in multiple rounds of debate. Topics for this year’s debate included the use of standardized tests in college admissions to imposing term limits on the Supreme Court Justices. The final winner was Miami Dade College. However, the debate is just one opportunity student attendees had to engage with each other. The Student Government Association within Florida TRiO also held their annual meeting and elections for new officers representing the pre-college programs throughout the state. This provides students leadership opportunities for their college applications and beyond.

Each year the Student Leadership Conference is a reinvigorating event for both students and staff alike to connect and re-charge for the upcoming year. The conference provides professional and personal development in an environment charged with fun and connection. Florida TRiO (formerly known as FAEOPP) serves as the organizing body for the conference and this year Ms. Jerinae Speed, Vice President of Florida TRiO (Palm Beach State College), did a fabulous job putting together a conference that both students and staff benefited from.

The University of South Florida Upward Bound Program (USF UBP) celebrated a momentous 50 year milestone (1966-2016) of Pride, Service, at the USF Marshall Student Center Ballrooms on Saturday, October 1s. USF UBP under the groundbreaking leadership of Dr. Richard Pride, Mr. Bob Davis, Dr. Sharman McRae, and current director Raymond Cabrera has a proven track record of breaking barriers to college enrolment and completion locally and nationwide. All ticket sales were donated to the Dr. Richard F. and Eva L Pride Endowment Scholarship.  The event featured Kathy Castor, US representative for Florida’s 14th district, Mr. Alvin Phillips, Vice President of Membership and Human Resources at the Council for Opportunity in Education, Hillsborough County School Board member Ms. Doretha Edgecomb, Mr. Alvin Phillips, Vice President of Membership and Human Resources at the Council for Opportunity in Education, veteran TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) directors Ms. Reba Garth of USF and Mr. Derrick Brown of HCC, USF Vice President for Student Success Paul Dosal, as well as current students and alumni. 

Congresswoman Castor spoke about her invaluable advocacy that protected USF UBP from losing funding in the face of severe budget cuts in 2008. Congresswoman Castor recognized USF UBP’s past, present, and future successes that continue to contribute to progress nationwide. Project coordinator Christine Scourtes, past Polk site manager and residential coordinator Don Williams, longtime residential and pageant coordinator Pat Solomon, program alumnus and former Director’s Mr. Bob Davis and Dr. Sharman McRae.  Ms. Chloe Coney, District Director for Congresswoman Castor, was honored as distinguished alumna as she shared memories of Dr. Richard “Papa” Pride. To close out, Chloe Coney’s fellow 1960s alumni shared how they transcended their circumstances as a model for generations to come. Photo and video highlights are available on the program Facebook page (www.facebook.com/USFUBP1)