By Jurry Taalib-Deen
Journal Staff Writer
For many young adults, 19 and older, and military personnel just completing their service in the armed forces, navigating through the seemingly complex world of pursuing higher education can be overwhelming. But the TRIO Program at Owens Community College helps eliminate those complexities.
Brandon Graddy, director of the TRIO Program at Owens Community College, explained to The Toledo Journal, on March 21, how their programs, the Educational Opportunity Center and Veterans Upward Bound, helps those first generation students, who also come from low income, obtain a college degree.
The mounds of paperwork, as well as the jargon of the college world, that may confuse and ultimately cause a potential student to give up hope, is all put at bay, by the professional experts of the TRIO who help walk that person through avenues that once seemed insurmountable.
Areas such as FAFSA completion, searching for scholarship, career exploration and transitions, trades/vocational enrollment, whether or not to pursue a two or four year program for a college degree, and student loan default counseling, are just a handful of the many services offered.
“For the 19 year old student who wants to attend college for the first time, or the veteran who’s transitioning out of the military into civilian life, we want to make their transition as smooth as possible, and help them get over the hurdles that many first generation college students experience,” Mr. Graddy said.
Jason Graven, assistant director of the TRIO Veterans Upward Bound Program, is an Army veteran who understands the challenges veterans face. “Veterans have real world bills, jobs and a family to support, so entering college for the first time can be a real challenge,” he said.
Under that program, those veterans could use their military experience to pursue a degree or vocational training, in addition to receiving financial aid, scholarships and having a schedule that works around their everyday life.
Another opportunity allotted to veterans through the TRIO program is helping them upgrade their discharge from the military because they may have refused the vaccine during the covid-19 pandemic. Under the new Presidential Administration, Mr. Graven said the veterans who were kicked out of the military can have their discharge papers upgraded, which further removes barriers that many veterans faced during and after the pandemic.
For more information call 567.661.7300 or email trioeoc@owens.edu. Jason Graven can be reached at 567.661.7131 or email owens.edu/triovub.
