Eastern Florida Gains Federal Grant for TRIO Program

Eastern Florida State College has been awarded a $1.4 million federal grant to help provide students with the academic and support services they need to succeed.

The five-year grant for the TRIO program is aimed at helping increase the number of low-income, first-generation college students and those with disabilities who graduate.

Some 235 students participate annually in the program at Eastern Florida, where it has existed since 1971. The students range in age from 18 to 60.

“The program is central to giving additional support to students who might not otherwise know how to ask for help,” said Beatrice Turpin-Peek, TRIO program director on Eastern Florida’s Cocoa campus.

“It’s a proven game-changer with many of them making the dean’s list and president’s list for academic achievement and participating in the honor society.”

The program’s services include tutoring, assistance in course selection, information about financial aid and economic literacy and resources to help students transfer to universities and pursue graduate studies.

Eastern Florida received $284,751 for the period of Sept. 1, 2015 to Aug. 31, 2016, with the total award for the five-year program at $1,423,755.

All the program money comes from the U.S. Department of Education. No non-governmental funding sources are used.