FROM LEFT ARE Forest Park High School Class of 2020 graduates and TRIO alum Kailee Abts, Mindy McKinnon and Caitlin Bloomburg at Michigan TRIO Leadership event.

HANCOCK — While students are becoming acclimated to school with COVID-19 precautions and new routines, TRIO Pre-College Programs are busy keeping up with the changes to ensure they are able to serve their students to the best of their ability.

Additionally, they are prepared to assist students who have decided to learn from home. As safety of the students is of the utmost importance, TRIO will continue to monitor COVID cases in the counties they serve, and will plan and modify accordingly.

The programs is comprised of TRIO Talent Search and TRIO Upward Bound. Both programs assist low-income and/or potential first-generation students prepare for post-secondary education, though their service areas and methods differ. Both programs offer fee waivers for college applications, SAT, ACT, college campus tours when able, and financial aid/FAFSA assistance.

TRIO Talent Search serves a number of students from 16 schools in Baraga, Houghton, Gogebic, Iron, Keweenaw and Ontonagon counties. TRIO Talent Search is a good fit for students who would like to attend college and could use an additional person to assist and encourage. The majority of advising is done within the school day, but students can arrange for additional advising outside of the school day as needed.

TRIO Upward Bound serves a smaller number of students from nine schools in Baraga, Houghton and Keweenaw counties. TRIO Upward Bound is a good fit for students who would like to attend college and need accountability and community.

Students have the opportunity to meet for afterschool study labs and monthly Saturday Academies and can earn stipend money for participating. Additionally, TRIO Upward Bound hosts a six-week summer program, during which students live in the dorms at Finlandia University, take courses and participate in evening activities for the first five weeks. The sixth week is spent visiting a major U.S. city.

Those interested in enrolling a student either in TRIO Talent Search or TRIO Upward Bound can call 906-487-7343 or email trioprecollegeprograms@keweenawtrio.org. For more information, go online to www.keweenawtrio.org.