Faced with a challenge, students are on the right track

UM-Dearborn’s Office of TRIO Programs connects historically underserved students to college-focused support to help them meet or exceed their goals. But on a recent university-organized trip to Chicago, the TRIO students were the ones providing the assistance.

“The office took 14 UM-Dearborn students to see the University of Chicago to learn more about their graduate school programs and to visit museums. For many of our students, it was their first time leaving Michigan,” said Rachel Leonard, UM-Dearborn Office of TRIO Programs program manager and program advisor. “The trip to Chicago was to show them something new. But, from this experience, they showed me how resilient, determined and amazing they all are.” TRIO is a series of federal- and state-funded programs that provide academic and personal support to low-income, first-generation college students and students with disabilities from middle school through postgraduate studies.

After a few days visiting the Windy City, the students boarded the Amtrak train to return home. Halfway through the journey back to Dearborn, the train stopped on the tracks about 10 minutes outside of Battle Creek around 7:15 p.m. Aug. 15 and stayed there for nearly five hours due to a mechanical failure. During that time, the power went out. The temperature — with locked doors and windows — climbed above 90 degrees. The bathrooms overflowed. And the Office of TRIO Programs students sprang into action.

Juniors Khailin Huffman and Gabrielle Nettles-Owens encouraged the Amtrak crew to offer free snacks and water to the passengers and the students distributed those throughout the cabin. Junior Nila Hooper entertained young children and helped parents with babies, while also bringing ice chips to passengers who were concerned about heat exhaustion. And sophomore Veronika Ramirez walked up and down the aisles, reassuring passengers and collecting trash.

“After about an hour of being told it would only be 15 more minutes, we knew that we needed to do something. People were getting upset and starting to yell. We got busy. We were in the aisles saying ‘water, trash, snacks’ like we were Delta flight attendants,” said Huffman, noting that all of the UM-Dearborn TRIO students helped in some way. “We’ve all been in tough spots before and didn’t want to make a bad situation more than what it was. You have to try and look for ways to make it through life’s challenges with a positive attitude. There’s usually a way to make bad situations a little better.” Buses showed up to take passengers home around 11:45 p.m. For their actions, TRIO students and staff were featured in media outlets like CBS News. 

Leonard said many of her students come from challenging situations and have developed life skills that help them think quickly. “We have students who have seen a lot and they are out here doing the dang thing,” she said. “On the outside, they look like a typical college student. But once trust develops and they start sharing their stories, it’s a privilege to see how much they’ve overcome to get to college. In our office, we focus on helping get them to graduation and seeing what opportunities can be next.” UM-Dearborn Office of TRIO Programs students have experiences like living with a disability, being emancipated from their families, growing up in poverty and/or attending underfunded school districts.

TRIO resources support qualifying UM-Dearborn students by providing assistance to overcome social and financial barriers through academic tutoring, assistance in college course selection, and sharing information on scholarship and financial aid programs. 

Huffman, a Detroit resident studying psychology, said the TRIO staff helped her navigate paperwork for her Wolverine Pathways Scholarship. Hooper, a Belleville resident studying communications, said the office connected her to her first job. And Ramirez, a Fraser resident studying political science, said the office has amazing academic and leadership mentors. “Even though we didn’t know each other at first, everyone in the office is close and looks out for each other. It makes you feel secure and confident to try new things,” said Ramirez, who was recently hired by the Office of TRIO Programs to provide math and science mentoring to students at Robichaud High School in Dearborn Heights. “I’ve gone to leadership conferences in Traverse City and even presented at one. TRIO offers a lot and being part of this program takes you such a long way.”

UM-Dearborn Office of TRIO Programs Director Perry Boyd II said many of the young people in the program excel in college once they get the support they need. For example, Fall 2024 alum Annesha Hardy landed a technical business developer role at Amazon Web Services in Seattle immediately after graduation. And current students Huffman, Hooper and Nettles-Owens have been hired as TRIO tutor/mentors.

Interested in becoming a TRIO student? Fill out the student eligibility assessment form.

Boyd said TRIO students often come from environments where school districts provided an under-resourced education. “These students have catching up to do. That doesn’t mean they can’t succeed or they aren’t smart — many of these kids are brilliant and have great ideas. The TRIO Programs recognize this,” he said. “We want to get these students connected to each other, to a network of mentors and to their academic goals. College graduates are higher earners and have more opportunities. We want them to earn that diploma. I’ve been where some of them are. I grew up in Detroit in a pretty tough neighborhood. I understand the obstacles and also know what it’s like to come out on the other side.”

Leonard said she’s impressed with how her students responded last month on the train. But, from the effort Leonard sees them put in almost daily, she’s not surprised. 

“If you think they did something amazing on that train, just wait until you meet these students in person,” she said. “They are out here trying to change the world through consistently persevering, choosing kindness and looking for ways to help others.”

Story by Sarah Tuxbury