TRIO Moves Forward After Honoring Graduates and Award Winners
Galesburg, IL (07/10/2025) — Knox College has continued its legacy of student success with the TRIO Achievement Program, which recently announced its annual award winners for the 2024-25 academic year. The College has received funding to support the program since 1974.
Funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), TRIO is designed to assist students from low-income backgrounds and those whose parents do not hold a four-year college degree. Additionally, students with documented disabilities are eligible to apply for the TRIO Achievement Program.
TRIO addresses various aspects of the student experience, including personal, financial, academic, and cultural support. The program has five goals: student retention, graduation, maintaining good academic standing, enrolling in graduate or professional schools, and fostering a positive campus climate for TRIO students.
The programs' success is proven, as studies indicate that TRIO Achievement Program participants perform better than first-generation, income-eligible students who do not participate.
"Our participants are more likely to do all the things, have a higher GPA at the end of their first year, earn more credits, and be more likely to return," Executive Director of TRIO and the McNair Programs, Risa Lopez said. "For the six-year graduation rate, what we saw, our rates since I started in the Fall of 2007, those six-year graduation rates average over 80 percent, but unserved First-Gen, and low-income, the graduation rate is under 50 percent, those numbers show the impact."
Every year, between 45-65 new participants are selected to join the program. Participants are recruited and selected in the spring and summer before their first term at Knox College. In its 50-plus years as part of TRIO, Knox has helped approximately 2,200 students supported by grants totaling more than $10 million in funds from the DOE.
The mission is to provide students with support and resources for academic success, personal growth, and a sense of community, making it more than just a program.
"It's been very nice to have a support system with me," said 2025 graduate and computer science major Steven Mensah. "I feel like if I didn't have TRIO or Gale Scholars, I don't know who I would turn to."
In honor of the completion of the 2024-25 academic year, the TRIO program announced its annual award winners-recognizing academic excellence, personal resilience, program engagement, and service to the community. This year's award winners include:
GPA First Year: Lyn Kres '28 and Sydney Zesch '28
GPA Sophomore: Hunter Marston '27 and Emily Kunkel '27
GPA: Junior: Jessica Shannon '26
GPA Senior: Madison Byrket '25
GPA Transfer: Kaylee Ross '26
GPA Improved: Diana Tolentino '26
Attitude: Katie Ponce '26
Charisma: Bebe's Kids (Jonealya Wells-Mohn '27, Saul Velazquez '27, John Castillo '27, Darik Botello Morales '27)
Dedication: Rosie Vazquez '27
Inspiration: Londyn Nelson '28
Persistence: Aleene Ramirez '25
Social Justice: Lo Nuestro
Transformation: Mang Niang '27
Outstanding First-Year: Camila Ramirez '28
Outstanding Sophomore: Jaylen Carwell '27
Outstanding Junior: Grael Mulata '26
Outstanding Senior: Alexa Custer '25
Provost and Dean of the College Michael Schneider received the Distinguished Educator of the Year for the TRIO Program. The award is designed to recognize a faculty or staff member who has exemplified advocacy for students who are first-generation college students or from modest-income backgrounds. Nominees should demonstrate commitment, dedication, and desire to assist TRIO students while promoting a positive campus climate for TRIO students at Knox College. Provost Schneider is stepping down from his role on July 1.
