TRiO Student Support Services (SSS) is a new program at Hamline University, serving up to 140 first-generation students, students from low-income households and students with disabilities every year.
In 2025, Hamline received a five-year, $1.4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to support the program. So far, TRiO has organized a Summer Grad School trip, where students visited graduate school campuses across the midwest to explore opportunities to further their education and hosted its First-Year Experience program in August.
We spoke with Omar Aguirre, TRiO advisor and first-generation college student, to learn more about the program and how it supports students.
Question: How would you describe the TRiO program and community?
Aguirre: TRiO is a federally funded program that supports first-generation students, students from low-income families and students with disabilities during their college journey. We offer an inclusive community where students can be fully themselves and get the support they need to succeed. We also try to have a lot of fun!
Question: What services, resources, and opportunities does TRiO offer students?
Aguirre: TRIO is a one-stop shop for academic advising, financial literacy education, career counseling, grad school prep and community. We do a wide range of things! This summer we took a group of students on a three-day graduate school trip, visiting four different grad schools and spending a day in downtown Chicago. In a few weeks, we’ll host a Syllabus Power Hour Workshop to help students get organized for the semester and a coffee hour for non-traditional and transfer students.
Question: Who is eligible to participate in TRiO, and what are the requirements to join?
Aguirre: TRiO students must 1) be a first-generation college student and/or 2) come from a low-income household; and/or 3) have a documented disability. Further, a student must be currently enrolled at Hamline and be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
Once admitted, students are required to attend a mix of advising appointments, success workshops and social events each semester.
Question: How can students connect with a team member and apply?
Aguirre: Students can email trio@hamline.edu or come by the office. We are in Suite 201 in Bush Memorial Library. Students can apply online at hamline.edu/trio.
Question: How can faculty and staff identify and refer students who may benefit from the program?
Aguirre: Faculty and staff can refer students by emailing someone on our team directly or emailing trio@hamline.edu
In terms of identifying students, if a student mentions being the first in their family to attend college or is independently navigating the financial challenges that come with funding an education, those can be good indicators.
It is important to note that while we award a small number of grants each year, we are not a scholarship program; students who only need/want financial support may not be a good fit.
Question: Why is a program like TRiO so critical for first-generation, low-income, or students with disabilities at Hamline?
Aguirre: All students can benefit from having a point person to help them navigate college. What makes TRiO especially powerful for the population that we serve is that we understand some of the distinct challenges they face and offer an integrated set of services that allows them to talk to one person about a range of overlapping needs and goals.
TRiO is also a community, which means that students also benefit from a cohort of motivated peers who share some similar life experiences. We encourage all of our students to recognize the value of their own journeys and how it can benefit them in the future.
Question: How does TRiO help students transition from Hamline into careers or graduate school?
Aguirre: At the individual level, we start talking to students about their future goals at the first check-in. If they don’t have a career in mind, we introduce them to tools and experiences they can use to solidify their plans, like the Occupational Outlook Handbook, informational interviews, volunteer work, etc. If they know where they are headed but are unsure how to get there, we help them identify courses and extracurricular activities that will make them competitive candidates for entry-level careers and/or graduate school. We can also help students draft or strengthen resumes, provide practice interviews and coach them through a job search process.
At the group level, we offer a range of workshops, from a Microsoft Excel 101 workshop to a workshop on fellowships, summer research and professional apprenticeships. We also coordinate grad school visits locally and, on occasion, out of state.
Question: How has your own experience as a first-generation college student shaped how you mentor and support students?
Aguirre: I have been directly in their shoes. I remember looking at a FAFSA application my senior year of high school and not having a clue of how to fill it out. During college, I was not involved on campus to the level that I could have been and I missed out on a lot of opportunities to build some helpful skills. Because of this, I want to guide and mentor our students to make the most of their own college experience.