Jacksonville, Fla.—Jacksonville University TRIO Student Support Services Program is proud to announce that three JU students, along with alumnus and Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown ’85 ’89, will be recognized during The Southeastern Association of Educational Opportunity Program Personnel’s (SAEOPP) 40th anniversary conference taking place at the Hyatt Regency in Downtown Jacksonville Feb. 25-29.
The conference begins with the celebration of National Trio Day on Feb. 25. Beginning at 10 a.m. that day, JU students, along with students from Florida State University and Georgia State University, will be participating in a food drive with the Second Harvest Food Bank. Mayor Brown will be the keynote speaker during the drive and the Andrew Jackson band and systematic Dance Crew will perform.
Along with Mayor Brown, the three JU students are Sandria Vernon, Sequoyah Glenn and Ariel Brown, who will be honored as TRIO Achievers on Feb. 28 at 7 p.m. for their academic successes.
Vernon participated in The Summer Undergraduate Research Program at Emory. Her project focused on studying the complications of liver transplants. She created and implemented a model that allowed for the study of liver cells in oxygen and nutrient free environments without cell death.
Glenn is a member of the Davis College of Business (DCOB) Brumo’s Circle of Excellence, as well as a recipient of the Elizabeth Edgar Hall Scholarship and the DCOB Bert Thomas and Richard Sanborn Scholarships.
Brown is a recipient of the Ophelia Bingham Campbell Endowed Scholarship and a member of the United Multicultural Association and Wind Ensemble and Orchestra.
For a complete schedule of events, please visit www.saeoppconference.com. Local schools that offer trio programs include Edward Waters College, Florida State College at Jacksonville, JU, as well as the Gear Up program from Raines and Ribault High Schools.
Student Support Services (SSS) is dedicated to raising the retention and graduation rate of low-income, first generation students and students with disabilities at JU. Gaining knowledge and skills for postsecondary success and beyond, this program helps students develop a strong support system within the JU community. The Trio SSS Program is funded by the United States Department of Education. The program, along with six other access programs, comprise the Federal TRIO programs, all designed to help students obtain degrees from baccalaureate to doctoral. The SSS program was initially authorized under Title IV of the Higher Education Act in 1968.
SAEOPP is an eight-state southeast regional Association dedicated to the professional development and support of TRIO professionals and to the advocacy of the TRIO Movement. The Mission of SAEOPP is to promote and support equal educational opportunity and access to postsecondary education. Through professional development, networking, research and advocacy, SAEOPP provides TRIO personnel and others with the necessary skills and techniques to assure that the least advantaged have equal access to higher education.
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