Celebrate National TRIO Day

Kankakee Community College is celebrating the 40th Annual National TRIO Day on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026.

National TRIO Day recognizes the transformative impact of the Federal TRIO programs and honors the achievements of first-generation, income-eligible students, students with disabilities and veterans pursuing higher education.

“I understand firsthand the barriers that many students may face,” said Lisa Davis, who was a first-generation college student when she attended KCC. She is now assistant director of TRIO Student Support Services at the college.

“TRIO provides academic support and resources that promote persistence, completion, and college transfer readiness for our students to overcome barriers that may be between them and their dreams,” Davis said. “The hope is that our TRIO students are reminded that they are supported and do not have to navigate their educational journey alone.”

The TRIO program at KCC serves 833 students through three programs: Upward Bound, Student Support Services, and Talent Search. KCC Upward Bound has 78 high school-age students; KCC Talent Search has 600 students who have completed 5th grade and are at least 11 years old; and KCC Student Support Services has 155 KCC students.

“As a TRIO McNair Scholar and now assistant director of TRIO Upward Bound, my journey with TRIO has come full circle,” said Joel M. Tokarczyk of KCC. “As a first-generation, low-income, and nontraditional student, higher education often felt out of reach. I had dreams for my future, but I did not always have a clear path toward achieving them.

“Looking back, I often wish there had been a program like Upward Bound available to me when I was in high school,” Tokarczyk continued. “I am grateful that TRIO welcomed me as an undergraduate through the McNair program and helped me find direction, confidence, and a belief in what was possible. Today, I am proud to help ensure that our Upward Bound students receive that support earlier in their journey, so they can see their futures clearly and step into them with confidence.”

TRIO programs provide academic guidance, tutoring, advising, mentoring, college readiness services, financial aid support, and career development opportunities for eligible students. Nationally, TRIO serves more than 800,000 individuals each year, including middle school, high school, and college students, adult learners, veterans, and graduate scholars.

“Students need people to empower them to believe in their potential, persist through obstacles, and achieve their educational and career goals,” said Melany Duax, assistant director of TRIO Talent Search at KCC. “I understand firsthand the challenges many TRIO students face. As a low-income student navigating higher education largely on my own, I experienced the uncertainty, stress, and pressure of starting and completing college without a clear roadmap. Those experiences shape my dedication to ensuring TRIO Talent Search students have the guidance, encouragement, and resources I once needed.”

National TRIO Day was established by Congress in 1986. Federal TRIO programs were created through the landmark Higher Education At to remove barriers to postsecondary education. More than 6 million TRIO students have earned college degrees, according to the Council for Opportunity in Education.

For more information about TRIO programs at KCC, visit www.kcc.edu/trio, talentsearch.kcc.edu and upwardbound.kcc.edu.

Student Perspectives: TRIO Talent Search

These firsthand insights from TRIO Talent Search students reflect on program aspects including homework labs, test-preparation strategy sessions, educational field trips, career readiness assistance, and building social confidence."

• “TRIO helped me learn to study and be more focused in my schoolwork. Before I went to TRIO, I had trouble, so I'm very grateful to be in there and with my besties. I feel comfortable there with them.” - Tierra Carter, 7th grader
• “It has helped me not put off doing my homework and not fall behind on missing assignments. TRIO has helped me get a perfect 4.0 GPA for the third quarter in a row.” - Esmeralda Hernandez, 8th grader
• “TRIO Talent Search has impacted me and my educational journey by taking us on free field trips to colleges and giving us the opportunity to learn more about education. TRIO Talent Search is also helping in college readiness and impacting my life by helping me narrow down my career options.” - Sophia Cortez, high school sophomore
• “By going to the ACT prep, I feel like I walked out with valuable information that could place me higher in colleges. Taking the ACT prep, I feel like I took it more seriously and ended up in the 21-25 composite scoring.” - Julianna Grangent, high school sophomore
• “TRIO has given me time there to get work done and get help if needed. They have impacted my educational journey with the people coming in and talking about what they do for careers. After the last presentation I heard, it made me rethink what I want to do and what I have to do to succeed in that area.” - Jasmine Perez, high school sophomore
• “TRIO Talent Search has been a program I see as a getaway from any issues I have. I know there's a program for if I'm struggling with work or just being around people in general. It's helped to know a place I can go experience new things.” - Hunter Tacket, high school junior
• “I feel TRIO Talent Search impacted my educational journey by leading me to the right path of what I would like to do in the future. It's helped me make a few friends along the way and encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone.” - Leah Jones, high school junior
• “It helped me try to understand what I want to study or do after high school. I believe it also helped me talk to other people better. I still get nervous and anxious, but I definitely see growth with the trips that I have gone to.” - Jimena Sanchez, high school senior