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The David T. Kearns Center for Student Leadership and Success, the home of First-Generation college students at the ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½, has an exciting year of programming under way with one of its federally funded TRIO Programs, Student Support Services (SSS). A competitive program for income eligible and first-generation college students, SSS provides a variety of services geared towards helping students on their journey towards college graduation.

On September 30th, members of SSS gathered in the evening for an induction ceremony. The ceremony celebrated the acceptance of one of the largest cohorts of SSS students in recent years, with 51 new students joining the program. At the induction ceremony, students enjoyed a catered dinner, heard speakers from the program, and received certificates celebrating their acceptance in the program.  ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ this exciting occasion, Assistant Director of College Programs Melissa Raucci says “I’m psyched for SSS. This is a special group coming into the program, and our largest applicant pool by far in recent years. Across the board, students applied because they want to actively give back to the community at SSS.” This enthusiasm for the program was evident in the night’s events as students cheered on one another while they received their certificates of acceptance into SSS.

The SSS induction ceremony set the tone for the coming school year. Sophomore Arianna Carrion says “attending the ceremony with the next cohort gave me a great sense of what SSS is all about. Through SSS, I hope to step out of my comfort zone, gain strong guidance from my advisors, and learn how to navigate the challenges of college while staying focused on my long-term success.” Alanna Reyes, meanwhile, connected with the message of the student speaker, senior Valeria Díaz. “It really moved me because I understand how it feels to be a first-generation student…you have to work much harder than those around you to get where you need to be,” Reyes says. Díaz’s stories about presenting her research demonstrated all that you can accomplish in four years at the ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½. Her message resonated with the incoming cohort of SSS students as they plan out what their paths might hold, from career exploration to study abroad.

The resources from SSS equip their students with the resources to accomplish their goals in college. Wherever they want to be at the end of their college experience, SSS provides a supportive environment to help them get there. In addition to providing services like technology lending, SSS provides support from advisors who help students navigate opportunities like internships, study abroad, and job applications. Pursuing opportunities like these often requires applicants to be organized and informed about procedures, in addition to sometimes needing to take on financial burdens to participate. Program Manager Jessica McCane says “many students face imposter syndrome, socioeconomic barriers, or other challenges that may make them hesitant to pursue opportunities. Part of our role is to help students recognize that not only do they deserve these experiences, but also that they have the resources, guidance, and support needed to overcome barriers and take advantage of opportunities.” According to McCane, this past summer, 35 SSS students received funding so they could conduct research on campus, attend classes, travel to conferences, and more. Being involved in the program provides structure so that students can plan ahead and embrace opportunities like these.

McCane also emphasized that in addition to accomplishing the program’s goals of graduating students on time, she has a personal investment in helping students leave the university with a strong professional résumé. Sophomore Giovani Bello describes the “immense” support he has received from the Kearns Center via SSS. “They have supported my travel to conferences where I have gotten interviews with companies like Lenovo and Delta,” Bello says. “They have also supported my travel last year when I studied abroad in Barcelona.” Routes like Bello’s show how the support from SSS allows students to not only make progress towards graduation, but to carve out their own meaningful, fulfilling paths as young professionals.

Since students need to qualify as income eligible and/or first-generation to participate in SSS, many program participants emphasize the shared background with their peers as a significant draw of being involved with the program. In SSS, students find a community of support that helps them pursue ambitious projects, persist through challenges, and forge lasting relationships. Emmanuel Singh-Juarez says “as the first in my family to go to college in the U.S., I often felt like I was figuring things out on my own without a roadmap. I knew I needed a space with guidance and people who could help me succeed.”  Knowing that there is a community of people with common backgrounds at SSS allows the Kearns Center to feel like a second home for students and a place where they can count on finding support. Josih Torres agrees, “I love hearing people’s stories, learning from their experiences, and being part of a supportive environment where we all lift each other up.” Alanna Reyes also gave a shout out to Kearns Director Antonio Williams, EdD, saying that his “amazing pep-talks” have helped her believe in herself while completing her degree. In these ways, students cultivate a feeling of home-away-from-home at the Kearns Center.

Students interested in SSS can apply to the program at the beginning of the next academic year. You can learn more about SSS by visiting the Student Support Services Program page.