Feather River College reports that last month representatives from the TRiO Talent Search and Upward Bound programs traveled to Washington, D.C., for the Council of Opportunity and Education’s annual seminar to advocate for continued federal support of TRiO grants that serve students across Plumas and Sierra counties. Upward Bound Director Audrey Selby, Talent Search Director Niecea Freeman and advisors Cal Blanton and Alejandra Martinez participated in the trip.
“These essential programs, which help first-generation and income-eligible students pursue and succeed in postsecondary education, are a lifeline for rural communities where educational resources are often limited,” said Freeman.
During their visit, TRiO staff met with Kevin Kiley’s legislative assistant, Huntley Campbell, to share the unique stories and challenges faced by students in California’s District 3, including those served by TRiO programs at Feather River College, Sierra College and Lake Tahoe Community College. In addition to speaking on behalf of their local Talent Search and Upward Bound participants, the delegation’s members said they also proudly represented the Student Support Services program at FRC, advocating for the critical wraparound support it provides to students once they reach college.
“Our rural students are resilient and ambitious, but they face real barriers — long travel distances to school, limited broadband access, financial hardship and a lack of exposure to college and career pathways,” said Freeman. “Programs like Talent Search, Upward Bound and SSS are not just helpful — they are necessary for closing the opportunity gap and helping our youth thrive.”
The TRiO team emphasized the measurable impact of their programs: increased high school graduation rates, improved college enrollment and retention, and stronger academic achievement among underserved students. They shared personal success stories of students who, with TRiO’s guidance, became first-generation college attendees and graduates exploring a wide range of careers to pursue their dreams and support workforce development.
Freeman said Campbell was receptive and engaged in learning about the day-to-day reality for rural students. The conversation provided an important opportunity to raise awareness of the educational inequities in mountain communities and the vital role TRiO plays in leveling the playing field.
As federal education funding faces increasing scrutiny, TRiO programs across the country are making their voices heard — and the team from Feather River College made sure that the voices of rural Northern California students were among them. Talent Search, Upward Bound and Student Support Services collectively support over 600 students in Plumas and Sierra counties and bring nearly $1 million annually to the region for educational services.
More information about the TRiO programs at Feather River College is available at https://www.frc.edu/studentservices/trio-programs.