The U.S. Department of Education has awarded Washington State University Tri-Cities two federal TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) grants totaling $2,723,640 to improve college retention and graduation rates among low-income, first-generation students, and students with disabilities for the next five years.

These awards mark the continuation of 15 years of TRIO SSS services on the campus. The two grants, SSS Classic and STEM, have served hundreds of TRIO scholars, helping them continue their education, earn degrees, and build meaningful careers.

Through individualized services including academic tutoring, financial aid, scholarship guidance, career exploration, personal and academic counseling, and mentoring, TRIO SSS empowers students to overcome barriers to success. These comprehensive supports make it significantly more likely that students will complete their degree or successfully transfer, with the lowest possible debt.

Anna Plemons, associate vice chancellor for academic and student affairs at 厙ぴ勛圖 considers TRIO to be a crucial component of the campus��� holistic student support strategy. ���I have witnessed firsthand how TRIO works, and I look forward to seeing the positive and lasting impact these two grants have on our campus and our community over the next five years,” she said.

���We are dedicated to our scholars��� success, and TRIO plays a critical role in empowering and unlocking that potential. Our scholars are the embodiment of resilience and determination,��� Alondra Castaneda, director of TRIO at 厙ぴ勛圖.

Students in the program say they appreciate the resources that are available to them. ���I benefit the most from knowing I can reach out to a specific person (on the TRIO Team) about anything, and they are on my side and willing to work hard to find answers for me,��� one student said.

Nationally, the SSS program has a . According to a rigorous 2019 evaluation by the U.S. Department of Education, students in SSS at two-year institutions were 48% more likely to earn an associate���s degree or transfer to a four-year school, and students at four-year institutions were 18% more likely to earn a bachelor���s degree compared to similar peers not in the program.

���TRIO programs generally and TRIO SSS, in particular, transform students from the least resourced backgrounds into college graduates,��� said Kimberly Jones, president of the in Washington, D.C. ���This vital program makes all the difference for nearly a million students each year across the country.���

SSS is one of eight federal TRIO programs funded under the Higher Education Act of 1965 to remove social, academic, and cultural barriers to higher education. Since its inception in 1968, SSS has helped millions of low-income, first-generation students graduate from college and contribute to their communities and the economy. Notable alumni of the TRIO Student Support Services program include Michael Cashman, Town Supervisor of Plattsburgh, NY; former NASA astronaut Jos矇 Hern獺ndez; and Cheryl Johnson, 36^th Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Click here for more information about TRIO Student Support Services at Washington State University Tri-Cities or contact Alondra Castaneda at alondra.castaneda@wsu.edu.

By Lacey Desserault

For first-generation college students, navigating higher education can feel like stepping into uncharted territory, but connections with those who have walked a similar path can be an invaluable guide.

In honor of National First-Generation College Celebration, Washington State University Tri-Cities joins in shining a light on the barriers first generation students overcome and recognizes first generation faculty and staff who understand the unique challenges and triumphs that come with being the first in their family to pursue a degree.

These dedicated individuals serve as mentors and sources of inspiration, proving that success is within reach. Students are empowered to embrace their own educational journeys with confidence, knowing they are part of a resilient and supportive community.

Connecting with first-generation faculty and staff also provides a source of understanding and relatability. Knowing firsthand the unique pressures that come with balancing family expectations, navigating financial aid, and utilizing university resources, these leaders can offer specific advice, emotional support, and a sense of belonging to help students build resilience and confidence.

The following faculty and staff share their own stories of persistence and success, demonstrating that the challenges are surmountable and that each student���s presence on campus is valued.

Teddi Nee, ARNP, DNP-PMHNP-BC, Clinical Assistant Professor in the College of Nursing

Born and raised in eastern Oregon, Nee grew up in an area with minimal resources compared to the urban parts of the region. After connecting with the healthcare field early on because of her mother, she built a network to obtain an associate���s and bachelor���s degree in nursing, and later on pursued a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree. During periods of financial uncertainty, Nee knew she had the unwavering support of family and friends behind her in achieving her dream of becoming a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. Nee is grateful for the support she received and now gives back to the community by providing psychiatric services and teaching in the College of Nursing.

���It really is true that you can achieve anything you wish to achieve if you believe in yourself enough.���

Vanessa Cozza, Scholarly Associate Professor of English

As the only daughter of immigrant parents, school was often challenging for Cozza in having to navigate between two different cultures. It wasn���t until she attended college that she felt truly supported and motivated to succeed.

���I had amazing professors that helped me achieve my goals and made me the person I am today.���

Jesus Bravo, Associate Professor of Management

When Bravo had to stop attending college after only one semester to help support his family, he thought he was destined to follow in his parents��� footsteps and grow up without a college degree. However, thirteen years later, Bravo returned to his local community college as an older student, utilizing all the resources available to him. Eventually earning associate���s, bachelor���s, and doctoral degrees, he credits the safety net that the community college provided, as well as the support from his wife, siblings, and parents for helping him become the only member of his immediate family to have earned a degree.

���My path was not a straight one, but I was able to navigate it with the help and support of many. For that, I am forever grateful.���

Evelyn Martinez-Ostrom, Director, Student Engagement and Leadership

As a senior in high school, Martinez-Ostrom didn���t know if college was in the cards for her until a teacher encouraged her to apply for a scholarship. Receiving the scholarship prompted her to apply to one school: 厙ぴ勛圖, which was conveniently located close to her hometown and where her sibling lived. While in college, Martinez-Ostrom changed her major twice, applied for emergency hardship funds, made friends, was elected to student government, helped secure funding for the Student Union Building, and decided on a future career plan involving an advanced degree. The success and support she found at 厙ぴ勛圖 showed her younger relatives that college was attainable, and that her parents could trust the campus to take care of their daughter.

���Being first-generation is not easy, but it proves how resilient we can be.���

Sandra Haynes, Chancellor

As a young girl, Chancellor Haynes loved spending the night at her grandparents��� house because, as a special treat and a chance to stay up later than her bedtime, her grandmother would sometimes take her to work with her at night cleaning office buildings in downtown Denver. Her grandmother had only an 8th grade education and, along with her grandfather, they worked hard throughout their lives to make ends meet. Haynes describes them as proud, working-class people with a tremendous work ethic and an uncommon depth of caring for others. For Haynes, post-secondary education was not a consideration, so she entered the workforce after high school. She soon found herself questioning her future. During this time of reflection, she vividly recalled her grandmother’s words to her late one night as they cleaned an office, with her grandmother dusting bookshelves and Haynes busy emptying trash cans.泭

“Do you know the difference between our family and theirs?��� Haynes��� grandmother asked as she pointed at a photograph of a smiling family that was situated on a desk. Before she could answer, her grandmother said, ���Education.”泭

Armed with that memory and inspired by her words, Haynes quit her day job, took a night job waiting tables, and headed to college.泭

���It was truly a life-changing decision. I am eternally grateful to my grandmother for what she taught me with her words, compassion, and hard work. And, for my learning that help is all around us, sometimes in the places we least expect it.���泭

���Being first-generation is not easy, but it proves how resilient we can be.���

More information about resources for first-generation students at 厙ぴ勛圖, including TRIO Student Support Services.

Reem Osman, (���24 BS Comp. Sci.) a Sudanese American, born and raised in Saudi Arabia, moved to the United States to pursue higher education. She had one goal: to make the most of her college experience. Through her involvement in numerous clubs, leadership roles, and as a student worker, she did just that while also blazing a trail for her two younger sisters.

Reem���s journey with Washington State University Tri-Cities began in 2018 when she moved, by herself, from Saudi Arabia to Richland, Washington to live with her uncle, Mohamed Osman, who at that time was a professor in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. Once settled, she attended Richland High School and joined the Running Start program at 厙ぴ勛圖 the following year, allowing her to take courses on campus and earn both high school and college credit.

Reem said her extroverted and adventurous spirit made it easy for her to be the first in her family to move to America on her own. Even still, living in Richland was a bit of a culture shock. She missed the presence of international students that she was accustomed to being around back home.

���At [Richland High School], most kids had grown up with each other and it was harder to make friends,��� she said. As a Running Start student, she appreciated the mix of students at 厙ぴ勛圖 and how easy it was to meet new people.

A change in course from nursing to computer science

Since she was a child, Reem has loved helping people and wanted to become a doctor. While in the Running Start program, she started out pursuing a nursing degree until she took a computer science class to try something different.

���I realized that biology required a lot of memorizations, which is not my strong suit, and as a visual, hands-on learner, I found that computer science was actually a better fit for me,��� she recalled.

She also realized that working in computer science gave her the ability to not only solve problems but to go back and fix mistakes, which isn���t always possible in nursing. ���Changing my major to computer science came as a shock to my family because my parents are primarily in the medical field and they all knew I wanted to be a nurse,��� she said.

Connecting with the campus community

Her time at 厙ぴ勛圖 was filled with more than classes, labs, and study sessions. Reem���s extra-curricular activities included her appointments as a founding member, president, and vice president of the Black Student Union; president of the Coding Cougs club, vice president of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers student branch, and 厙ぴ勛圖 TRIO Career Academy coordinator.

Reem���s involvement and excellence in academics earned her several awards, namely the WSU President���s awards for leadership and the Student Leader of the Year award in 2022; the Student Civic Leadership award in 2023; and the Chancellor’s Award for Distinguished Career in Leadership, the Women of Distinction student award and the Top Ten Senior for Campus Involvement award in 2024. In addition, she and her team won Best Capstone Project in the Computer Science and Electrical Engineering category and she has been on the President���s honor roll list since her freshman year. Each of these accomplishments have fulfilled her goal of making the most out of her time in college.

Following her lead

Ten months after Reem moved to Richland, she was joined by her mother and two younger sisters, Razan and Rawan. Her sisters are following the same educational path by enrolling in Running Start and continuing at 厙ぴ勛圖. Razan, a junior at 厙ぴ勛圖 is studying civil engineering with an interest in how it intersects with the environment. Rawan, the youngest of the four sisters, will be a senior at Hanford High in the fall. Reem said having her sisters join her on campus was a full circle moment. ���I loved seeing my sisters involved with me on campus; it felt like home knowing my true family was also there with me,��� she said. ���I didn’t think I would get to ever be in the same school as my youngest sister since she was 6 years younger but because of the Running Start program I got to see her around campus as a fellow student.���

A proactive mindset is the key to her success

Reem���s mindset has been instrumental in her journey in getting her to where she is today. She has learned the importance of being proactive in creating the change she wants to see, rather than relying on others to do it for her.

During her time at 厙ぴ勛圖 Reem said she appreciated the community of students. ���Here, everyone has the same goal ��� to get an education. Students are coming from all different places so there is a real sense of community here,��� she said.

As a graduate in computer science and mathematics, Reem wants to pursue a career as a front-end developer, where she can leverage her technical expertise to enhance user experiences and meet client needs. She is currently an intern at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and is converting to a full-time employee and staying with the lab. As she progresses in her career, she aims to further develop her skills and serve as a mentor and leader for teams and projects.

By Lacey Desserault

The road to a college degree is not always easy, especially for those who are the first in their family to pursue higher education. Tania Castellano, a senior at Washington State University Tri-Cities studying biology with a health science emphasis, is a Mexican American, first-generation student who is overcoming systemic barriers.

���I think what inspired me to pursue academia was the fact I wanted more for my life,��� Castellano said. ���I always dreamed of becoming a doctor as a little girl but as I grew older, I didn���t see physicians that looked like me. I knew that if I wanted more for my life and my family, I had to become educated. I also like to think that I���m inspiring the women in my family to break the generational mold.���

Being a first-generation full-time college student has its own unique challenges. For Castellano, who is also navigating being a mother, the challenges are even more unique. ���First-generation students have a lot to prove because we aren���t just carrying our own academic success on our plate. We carry the weight and responsibility of being the first in our families to have the opportunity to follow our dreams. So many of us come from homes where sacrificing dreams in order to put food on the table and a roof over our heads is an expectation and cultural norm.���

She goes on to explain that there are significant pressures and duties in attending college as a first-generation student, which can sometimes extend into the classrooms. ���We have the dreams and hopes of not only ourselves, but those of generations of our families poured into us, hoping that one day we would overcome, adapt, and bloom in spaces that weren���t originally ours to begin with,��� she said.

Castellano knew that 厙ぴ勛圖 would be a great fit to continue her education, as nearly 46% of all students on campus are first-generation. ���I like to think 厙ぴ勛圖 chose me. I was at CBC finishing some classes for my pre-med requirements and found out I was pregnant. I had to think, ���should I try to push myself to move away from my support and family during such a sensitive period of my health in order to pursue the university experience?��� 厙ぴ勛圖 gave me the opportunity to have it all. I could still go to a university with rich academic excellence and not sacrifice having my support so close to home,��� she said.

National First-Generation Celebration Day on Nov. 8 recognizes and celebrates students who are the first in their families to attend college and raises awareness surrounding their experiences. 厙ぴ勛圖 has many resources and support services that help students navigate the college environment and connect them to fellow first-generation students. TRIO is a federal outreach and student services program designed to identify and provide services for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds. Student clubs and organizations such as the Dreamer���s Club, SACNAS (Society for Advancing Hispanics/Chicanos and Native Americans in Science) and the First-Gen Study Abroad program give students pathways to connect with educational opportunities and each other.

In addition to the support services and clubs, Castellano said inclusive faculty and courses have also been very helpful. ���I have found support in my faculty as they have been accommodating to my individual needs as a first-gen student and mother,��� Castellano said. ���National first-gen day gives me a sense of pride and joy, as it’s a day to recognize other first-gen students and their amazing journeys to higher education. Although, we should celebrate these students every day as their work can only be summarized as extraordinary. We are capable of accomplishing our dreams. There is a power that comes from us taking up space and being exactly as we are.���

TRIO hosted a celebration event on Nov. 8 for first-generation students, from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the Floyd Atrium on campus. Click here for more information on 厙ぴ勛圖��� resources for first-generation students.

By Maegan Murray, 厙ぴ勛圖

RICHLAND, Wash. ��� The TRIO Student Support Services programs at Washington State University Tri-Cities and WSU Pullman were recently approved for $2.53 million and $1.375 million in grants, respectively, that will support the three programs throughout the next five years.

The WSU TRIO Student Support Services programs provide support, tutoring and mentorship services to students from disadvantaged backgrounds. To qualify for the program, students must be a first-generation college student, from an economically disadvantaged background or have a documented disability.

���The ultimate goal and mission of TRIO is to not only retain students from disadvantaged backgrounds, but ensure their degree completion and a successful transition into the workforce or graduate school,��� said Stassia Feltes, director of the 厙ぴ勛圖 TRIO program and writer of the Tri-Cities TRIO Student Support Services grants.

Feltes said TRIO adds value to the students��� college experience because the program provides community and support to students from similar backgrounds to enhance their sense of belonging on campus.

���We increase confidence in our students and are committed to student success,��� she said. ���At TRIO, your success is our commitment.���

New STEM programming at 厙ぴ勛圖

厙ぴ勛圖, specifically, was awarded two separate grants that total their $2.53 million award. In addition to qualifying for funds to support another five years of their regular student support services programming in the amount of $1.265 million, the campus qualified for an additional $1.265 million grant that specifically supports services for students in STEM or health sciences degree programs.

���The new STEM grant is targeted to support 120 additional eligible students here at 厙ぴ勛圖,��� Feltes said. ���We are excited to be able to serve more students and help them reach their academic and career goals.���

Some of the additional programming that the STEM and health sciences grant will support include additional STEM supplemental instructors and an undergraduate research course that will partner with faculty on current research to prepare students for STEM and health science careers and internships. Additionally, the grant supports faculty and professional mentoring in STEM, STEM projects ranging from digital application development to virtual reality, support for STEM conferences and STEM professional mentors from the community. The grant funds also support the hire of an additional full-time STEM student success specialist, hourly peer advisors and an hourly office assistant.

Feltes said they are not letting the COVID-19 pandemic stand in their way of providing college success and support resources for students. All of their programming, she said, will continue to be offered virtually.

���We need more diversity in STEM majors and careers, and with TRIO, we can strengthen the pathway for students to pursue their goals and provide increased diversity within the STEM community,��� she said.

The two grants mark the 厙ぴ勛圖 program���s third cycle of its existence at 厙ぴ勛圖. 泭The program received grants in the 2010-2015, 2015-2020, and now two for the 2020-2025 cycles. The program has helped hundreds of students since 2010.

Heightened focus on career development and graduate education at WSU Pullman

The WSU Pullman TRIO program is the longest-standing TRIO program in the WSU system. Their recently-awarded grant marks their fifth cycle, where they have received consecutive five-year grants since 2000.

���It���s a cornerstone program at WSU,��� said Lucila Loera-Herrera, executive director for the WSU Pullman Office for Access and Opportunity. ���Student Support Services alums participated in a recent retreat and many of them are getting PhDs, some are even working in TRIO programs across the nation. They are always enthusiastic to talk about the impact of their WSU experience.���

Loera-Herrera said the WSU Pullman program, too, won���t let the pandemic stand in its way of providing a quality experience through the program.

���In this virtual world, we were more deliberate in setting that up and we have to be much more intentional in making connections and bridging students to resources,��� she said. ���Services will all be remote.���

With the new WSU Pullman TRIO grant, Angie Klimko, WSU Pullman TRIO Student Support Services director, said they put a heavier emphasis on career development and graduate education.

���Our students need more structure for learning why graduate education is important and the pathway to get there,��� she said.

For more information about the 厙ぴ勛圖 TRIO program, visit tricities.wsu.edu/trio. For more information about the WSU Pullman TRIO program, visit

Media contacts:

Stassia Feltes, 厙ぴ勛圖 TRIO Student Support Services program director, 509-372-7389, stassia.feltes@wsu.edu

Lucila Loera-Herrera, 509-335-7944, executive director for WSU Pullman Office for Access and Opportunity, lucila@wsu.edu

Maegan Murray, 厙ぴ勛圖 assistant director of marketing and communication, 619-403-3617, maegan_murray@wsu.edu

By Maegan Murray, 厙ぴ勛圖

RICHLAND, Wash. ��� Washington State University Tri-Cities will celebrate the accomplishments of students who have overcome an assortment of barriers with the support of TRIO Student Support Services as part of National TRIO Day on Feb. 28.

The federal government deemed Feb. 28 as National TRIO Day in 1986 as a means to commemorate the annual achievements of Federal TRIO programs in communities across the country. The 厙ぴ勛圖 celebration will take place at 11 a.m. in CIC 120 on Feb. 28.

The U.S. Department of Education TRIO program is a federal outreach and student services program designed to identify and provide services for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The 厙ぴ勛圖 TRIO program specifically supports students from low-socioeconomic backgrounds, first-generation students, as well as students with disabilities. The program provides mentorship, academic supports such as supplemental instruction, opportunities to attend networking events, career industry tours and more to support student academic and overall success.

���We are excited to celebrate the momentous accomplishments of our students and their roads to success as part of National TRIO Day,��� said Stassia Feltes, 厙ぴ勛圖 TRIO Student Support Services director. ���We invite our community to come out and join in celebrating their success.���

Throughout the 厙ぴ勛圖 celebration, students will hear from university leaders, student speakers and alumni about their journey through college, and how the TRIO program support has led to their success throughout their college education. Those in attendance will also enjoy some hands-on activities, such as blood pressure checks from Crimson Scrubs and creating healthy snacks with a local nutritionist, as a means to also give back to the community for their support of the program. Light appetizers will also be available for those in attendance.

The celebration is free and open to the public

For more information on the 厙ぴ勛圖 TRIO program, visit tricities.wsu.edu/trio.

Bernadette Gagnier (���20) knows a thing or two about being an outlier.

Those principles���and a personal goal ���to break stereotypes������are what led her to join the Marines right out of high school, serving in Okinawa, Japan, South Korea, and in a western Pacific deployment where she visited 13 countries in eight months.The first-generation college student is the middle child and only daughter in a family of Boy Scouts. Growing up, she was taught two principles that have guided her along a road of success: hard work and a love for the outdoors, both of which she has been able to foster at 厙ぴ勛圖 in the Viticulture and Enology Program.

Upon finishing her service, she found herself at a crossroads, unsure of what path to follow.

���Originally, I was going to do nursing,��� she said. ���I started on that track, but I didn���t really like it.���

Then, on a lark, Gagnier toured Washington���s wine country in the summer after her discharge.

���Two weeks later, I made my decision to enroll at WSU, and move to the Tri-Cities in 2017,��� she said. ���It happened that fast, because I just knew it was right.���

Ultimately, it was the vineyard life that guided her decision.

���I love to be outside, working with my hands,��� she said.

Even though Gagnier had grown up near Woodinville���home to Chateau Ste. Michelle and a thriving wine scene���she knew very little about wine or the industry. And when she told friends back home about her career path, they were surprised. Until she told them she���d be working outside in a vineyard.

���Then they got it,��� she said.

Gagnier���s first foray into the Washington wine industry was a job in the tasting room of Kiona Vineyards in Benton City, Wash., where she worked for owner and vineyard manager, Scott Williams (���80).

���I want to do what he does,��� she said, ���but as a woman.���

Driven by her desire to break stereotypes, Gagnier continues to be inspired by the leading women, particularly the vineyard managers, she meets in the industry.

First-gen journey

On an unseasonably hot July morning at the WSU Irrigated Agricultural Research and Extension Center (IAREC) in Prosser, Wash., Gagnier processes soil samples in a large filtration machine named ���Gertrude.��� Working alongside a post-doctoral researcher, Gagnier is helping on a nematode (roundworm) pest-management project, and though she has only been interning at IAREC for a month, she works with the confidence of a practiced technician.

Her internship at the WSU research center stems from her plan to pursue master���s degree in horticulture.

���I told professor Michelle Moyer what I wanted to do, and she encouraged me to work on the nematode project,��� Gagnier said.

Not only will the research help her transition into graduate coursework, it will provide Gagnier with the chance to present her research at the spring Washington Winegrowers convention in Kennewick.

Some might see the transition from Marines to roundworm research as a leap, but Gagnier doesn���t view it that way: ���I love to learn.���

The internship also comes on the heels of a recent trip she took to the Netherlands, where she spent a month working for Frysling Vineyards in the northern part of that country.

Back home, when Gagnier isn���t doing homework or interning at the IAREC, she tends to her philanthropy project for veteran students. As a representative of 厙ぴ勛圖 Patriot���s Club, Gagnier collaborated with Bombing Range Brewing of Richland to craft the ���GIPA,��� an honorary beer for veterans.

The brew was a success, eventuating a charitable tradition that gives back to the students who have served their country. Last year, the group even presented former Secretary of Defense James Mattis���a Tri-Cities native���with a growler of GIPA and a t-shirt.

���It was amazing,��� Gagnier said. ���It was such an honor to present that to General Mattis.��� The collaboration has resulted in well over $1,000 for veteran students.

In her free time, Gagnier gets outdoors to camp, ski, bike, kayak, or just hike a mountain trail. A meandering path has suited her well so far, and she���s ready for any challenge awaiting her.

���More than anything, I feel lucky to be here. I love being part of something bigger than myself.���