TRIO grant secured
HCC receives $432K grant for TRIO Student Support Services
The U.S. Department of Education has awarded Holyoke Community College a TRIO Student Support Services grant of $423,190 to improve college retention and graduation rates among low-income, first-generation students, and students with disabilities.
This award, which runs through June 2026, marks the continuation of more than 30 years of TRIO SSS services at HCC. Since 1993, the program has served thousands of HCC students, helping them stay in school, earn degrees, and build meaningful careers.
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, TRIO SSS has helped millions of low-income, first-generation students graduate from college and contribute to their communities and the economy.
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 degrees or successfully transfer, with the lowest possible debt.
“The TRIO Student Support Services program at Holyoke Community College empowers students to achieve their academic goals through personalized academic support as they navigate both educational challenges and personal growth,” said Elsie Rodriguez-Garcia, director of TRIO programs at HCC. “Through mentorship, guidance, and valuable resources, TRIO inspires students to realize their full potential and thrive during their college journey. TRIO is more than just a support service, it is a community that engages, encourages, and uplifts students – fostering resilience, persistence, and lasting success beyond college.”
Nationally, the TRIO SSS program has a proven track record. According to a 2019 evaluation by the U.S. Department of Education, students in TRIO SSS at two-year institutions were 48 percent more likely to earn an associate degree or transfer to a four-year school, and students at four-year institutions were 18 percent 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 Council for Opportunity in Education in Washington, D.C. “This vital program makes all the difference for nearly a million students each year across the country.”
Notable alumni of the TRIO Student Support Services program include Michael Cashman, town supervisor of Plattsburgh, N.Y.; former NASA astronaut José Hernández; and Cheryl Johnson, 36th Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives.
PHOTO: Criminal justice major and TRIO student Danyelle Foster '25 celebrates Commencement 2025 at the MassMutual Center on May 31.
