Columbia College support program renews federal grant

Columbia College’s Trio Student Services Program recently received a $1.15 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education. The program has received $4.29 million in federal grants since its launch in 2001. Columbia College says the grant will allow the program to continue for the next five years.

The program, available to day students on the Columbia campus, assists first-generation college students, students with physical and mental learning disabilities and students who meet federal income guidelines. The program’s services encourage and support students seeking a four-year degree. 

“This grant provides us the opportunity to continue to work with a truly wonderful group of students as they strive toward their education goals,” said Nancy Lombardi, Student Services Director for Columbia College. “It is truly rewarding to watch them work so hard throughout the college experience and be a small part of their success.”

The Trio Student Services Program provides financial aid, tutoring, career services workshops, peer mentoring, cultural training and graduate school preparation. There are currently 160 students participating in the program.

Trio is a national program of the Department of Education and funds higher education institutions and community agencies that similarly help disadvantaged students.