Sunnyside Unified School District is hoping to expand its use of a college prep program to several of its middle schools.

TRiO programs are federally funded opportunities designed to motivate and support students from specific backgrounds to pursue a college degree. These include students from low-income households, first-generation college students and people with disabilities.

The programs are funded by the U.S. Department of Education and available to students enrolled at Pima Community College and select Tucson high schools.

The programs were inspired by Martin Luther King Jr. and founded in 1989. They’re the Department of Education’s highest funded grants, with Don Harp, Educational Talent Search Program Director for Pima College, calling TRiO the “crown jewel.”

“These grants are a difference maker,” said Edgar Soto, Vice President of Pima Community College’s Desert Vista Campus. “They fill the gaps, they help students navigate. They create a path to success and the pathway to a job with liveable wages.”

Pima Community College’s Desert Vista Campus currently offers five TRiO programs, three of which are available to Sunnyside high school students. The district has partnered with Pima College since 2007 to offer the programming to students at Desert View and Sunnyside High School.

The three programs available to high schoolers include Talent Search, Upward Bound and Upward Bound Math and Science.

Talent Search provides students with counseling and support navigating the college admissions process, including help understanding requirements, scholarships and various financial aid programs.

It also includes career services, tutoring, workshops, field trips and additional support. During their senior year, participants travel to San Diego to visit SeaWorld, but also get the opportunity to visit places like Patagonia Lake, the Pima Air and Space Museum, the Maricopa Community College Astronomy Lab, Biosphere 2, Arizona State University and more.

Talent Search is supported through a five-year, $2.54 million grant.  Between Desert View and Sunnyside high schools, 472 students are enrolled in the program, but Program Manager Harp hopes to see that number grow.

He asked board members to approve the expansion of the program to include 6th and 8th graders in five district middle schools: Apollo, Challenger, Lauffer, Gallego and Sierra.

“Every additional support mechanism we feel increases their chances,” said Harp. “It’s just really important to start them off in middle school.”

Upward Bound builds on Talent Search’s offerings and also includes  enrichment courses in literature, composition, math, science and foreign languages.

Students enrolled in Upward Bound can eceive one-on-one tutoring, monthly half-day enrichment classes, guest speakers and a $450 annual stipend.

There are currently 57 students enrolled in Upward Bound, with a $1.6 million grant supporting the program through 2027.

Students can also participate in a six-week Upward Bound summer program, which includes four daily classes on various subjects, career exploration activities and more, and offers college credits to graduating seniors.

The Upward Bound program has a 98% high school graduation rate, and about a 60% college graduation rate.

Participants have also received high-dollar scholarships, and have gone on to attend 25 different colleges around the country.

“As we know college is really expensive, so our programs don’t just focus on the preparation, because our students do come prepared,” said Upward Bound Program Manager Danny Pacheco. “We focus on financial literacy, we focus on the money. A majority of our students do come out with some kind of financial aid benefits.”

In 2022, Pima and the district began offering an Upward Bound Program focused specifically on math and science. This UBMS program has seen a 100% high school graduation rate among participants, 71% of whom have gone on to enroll in college.

The presentation highlighted the impact of the math and science program on families, with staffers sharing testimonials from students and parents who praised the hands-on experience.

“I learned a lot about how the college lifestyle would be,” one student said.

Pima’s TRiO program was one of six  nationwide to partner this year with NASA — an opportunity that  came about thanks to a former student, said Upward Bound Program Coordinator Carlos Romero.

The student, who works for Congressman and U.S. Senator-elect Ruben Gallego, emailed Romero last fall to recommend the program as a good fit for Upward Bound.

“With NASA, they wanted every “t” crossed and “i” dotted,” Romero said. “They put us through the ringer with everything, but it was all a labor of love just to highlight the talent we have here on the south side and push students into pursuing STEM careers.

Through the partnership, students participated in a May discussion with NASA flight engineers Jeanette Epps and Tracy Dyson, who answered questions and talked about their work and life aboard the International Space Station.

Board member Consuelo Hernandez attended the event, which was held at Pima’s Desert Vista Campus.

“It was such a cool opportunity to have our students be able to talk to astronauts,” she said. 

She said she’s happy to hear of plans to start the program in middle school. 

“I think we can reach a lot more students,” she said.

While the presentation was for information only and there was no vote on the expansion into the five middle schools, other board members said they were also eager to see the program grow.

“We see all the talent on the south side. We just know that it needs a chance,” said Upward Bound’s Romero.

Abbie Andrus is a journalism major at the University of Arizona and Tucson Spotlight intern. Contact her at asandrus@arizona.edu.

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