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Students and graduates from East Tennessee State University TRIO programs participated in the 2025 National TRIO Day of Service and won the Tennessee TRIO Upward Bound Scholars Bowl State Championship.

Held in Knoxville, the Day of Service aims to express appreciation to the community for supporting TRIO programs. TRIO encompasses seven federally funded programs that assist millions of students from low-income families in attending and graduating from college.

ETSU’s Upward Bound program competed against teams across Tennessee and will now represent the state in the Southeastern Association of Educational Opportunity Program Personnel Upward Bound Scholars Bowl Championship in Atlanta on April 18-19. ETSU’s Upward Bound program will compete against other state champions from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina and South Carolina.

Members of the ETSU team include Hope Conover (Hampton), captain; Tori Casbeer (Hampton), captain; Cooper Curtis (Science Hill); Nathan Starnes (West Ridge); Bailey Moss (Hampton); Bryson Laws (Hampton); Logan Brochu (Hampton); and Shaylee Mathes (Elizabethton).

TRIO, a federally funded outreach and student services program, offers potential and current ETSU students a range of assistance, including financial aid advice and support for veterans. TRIO programs at ETSU have achieved a range of successes, including earning significant grants.

“First-generation students often carry full course loads while working full-time jobs to support themselves and help their families,” said Kimberly Jones, president of the Council for Opportunity in Education, a nonprofit organization advocating for TRIO programs nationwide. “These students are first in their families to meet these new challenges to break the cycle of poverty. They are remarkable and deserve great recognition.”

Learn more about ETSU’s TRIO programs at www.etsu.edu/students/trio/.