UW-Waukesha Celebrates National TRIO Day 2000

A program will be held at 1:00 p.m. in the student lounge to honor students who have succeeded through the campus Student Support Services program. UW Colleges Chancellor Bill Messner, Director of Resources/Affirmative Action Lyn Reigstad, past and present exemplary TRIO students, and distinguished educators from the campus community all have been invited.Established by Congress in 1965 and funded through the Department of Education (DOE), the TRIO programs - originally three in number - aim at bringing disadvantaged Americans into the mainstream of higher education. Since then, TRIO programs - now seven of them - have served more than 10.5 million Americans.For the past 20 years, the UW-Waukesha Study Center (formerly known as the Learning Lab) has administered a TRIO Student Support Services program. With continuing federal support, the program provides qualifying students with personalized academic advising, career counseling, personal counseling and referrals, assistance with financial aid, and academic support in math, writing, reading, and study skills. In addition, five years ago, the campus started a mentoring program for students in the TRIO program, with TRIO students who are enjoying academic success helping newer students.To qualify for Student Support Services, students must be low-income (eligible for federal financial aid), first-generation college students (parents are not college graduates), or have special needs because of physical or learning disability.At the ceremony Friday, seven students will receive “Clean Sweep” Awards, presented to TRIO students who started in non-credit math or English classes and earned a C or better grade in all their math or English classes through college algebra or second-year English composition. These students are:Carolyn Cummings- WaukeshaIrma Vasquez- WaukeshaMark Verzal- PewaukeeNikki Schoonover- SussexJessica DiMaggio- MukwonagoApril Smith- MukwonagoSuzy Roundy-Schmidt- West AllisAnother ten TRIO program students who made the Dean’s List for fall, 1999, will be honored on Friday:Carolyn Cummings, Waukesha, highest honors (4.0)John Geers, Sussex, highest honors (4.0)Michelle Bjornstad, Waukesha, high honors (3.75-3.99)Renee Jaeger, New Berlin, high honors (3.75-3.99)Sara Krist, Delafield, high honors (3.75-3.99)Angela Broom, Ixonia, honors (3.5-3.75) ILuke Crow, Elm Grove, honors (3.5-3.75)Ann Pham, New Berlin, honors (3.5-3.75)Suzy Roundy-Schmidt, West Allis, honors (3.5-3.75)Brenda Winzenried, Nashotah, honors (3.5-3.75)A student who already has completed his associate degree but remains on campus, David Banta, East Troy, will receive the Esteemed Graduate Award.Sixteen students who have participated in the program will be recognized for their community service and leadership:Chuck Brehmer, Oconomowoc, mentor and tutorLorne Draskovic, Milwaukee, American Indian Club presidentJosh Hankins, Waukesha, outstanding student employee and men’s basketball co-captainCaterricka Harris, Milwaukee, mentor and women’s basketball co- captainCarolyn Cummings, Waukesha, mentor and tutorIrma Vasquez, Waukesha, mentorLuke Crow, Elm Grove, mentorAlysha Martinez, Waukesha, mentorMary Jo Lloyd, Waukesha, mentorMark Verzal, Pewaukee, mentorT racy Radtke, Waukesha, mentorMario Monterrey, Waukesha, Cultura Latina Club vice presidentLaurel Freeman, Milwaukee, UW- Waukesha playFinally, the Fred Moss Achievement Award will be given to one student. Honoring the first director of the campus Learning Lab, the award recognizes students who have greatly improved their performance through consistent effort. Moss, a professor of English, taught at UW-Waukesha from 1976 until his retirement last spring. Receiving the award this year is Richard Kokott, Muskego.

Janet Brown, Brookfield, directs a staff of eight in the Study Center, and Dolly Ayal, Shorewood, serves as senior advisor for TRIO program students.