About

Our Mission

Virgina Tech TRIO Programs provides cultural and academic support to participants in greater Southwest Virginia to assist them in pursuing and obtaining postsecondary education.

The programs bring new and creative ideas that aid low-income, first-generation students, military veterans, adult learners, and other underrepresented populations increase in confidence, build skills, and make informed decisions that will put them on the path to successful entrance to and graduation from the college of their choice.

What is TRIO?

TRIO is a group of federally funded outreach programs that support disadvantaged students who would like to pursue higher education. Beginning in 1964 as part of President Lyndon B. Johnson’s War on Poverty movement, TRIO began with three flagship programs: Upward Bound, Talent Search, and Student Support Services.

Over the years, more amendments to federal programs paved the way for more TRIO programs to be established. Throughout the next three decades, more programs would be established under the TRIO umbrella. Today, TRIO includes eight programs in different fields and levels of education.

Upward Bound and Talent Search are available through Virginia Tech.

Upward Bound

Upward Bound helps high-school students from low-income families to succeed in both getting accepted to college and also graduating from higher education institutions.

Talent Search

Talent Search is for middle and high school students who come from disadvantaged backgrounds and show promise for higher education. The goal of Talent Search is to encourage a greater number of students of disadvantaged backgrounds to finish high school and pursue post-secondary education.