Building access, equity, and student success
My work in College & Career Readiness
Hosting National TRIO Day 2025 volunteer event.
Hosting National TRIO Day 2025 volunteer event.
Every student has a story worth telling.
As a TRIO Talent Search Coordinator and Outreach Analyst at Arizona State University, I work with more than 900 first-generation and low-income students across seven high schools. My mission is simple: remove barriers, expand access, and empower students to see their strengths and tell their stories. Whether through data-driven outreach, after-school clubs, or one-on-one coaching, I strive to create equitable opportunities that help every student step confidently into their future.
Identifying barriers to access
When I first began working with TRIO Talent Search, I quickly noticed a disconnect. Each week, I met with more than 60 students across our partner schools—students who were eager, motivated, and excited to participate. Yet when it came to weekend enrichment events—whether it was a field trip, a guest speaker, or a sporting event—attendance across all seven high schools rarely broke 25 to 35 students. Out of nearly 1,000 students in our program, that meant fewer than 5% were able to participate.
The Challenge: Engagement Gaps
When I asked students why, their answers had nothing to do with interest or desire. They wanted to be there. The problem was access. The events were held on a campus 30 minutes away from the nearest school, and many students couldn’t find transportation. Others had work shifts, family responsibilities, or younger siblings to care for.
College readiness workshop in November 2024
College readiness workshop in November 2024
This was my turning point. If students couldn’t come to us, I realized we had to bring opportunity to them.
Student speaks at TRIO graduation
Student speaks at TRIO graduation
The Innovation: TRIO Club
Rather than accept low turnout as inevitable, I reimagined how students could access enrichment opportunities. Working with school counselors and student volunteers, I launched after-school TRIO Clubs directly on campus.
These clubs were intentionally student-driven:
The results were immediate: club attendance rose to 25–40 students per session. Students began inviting peers, leading recruitment efforts at club fairs, and even collaborating with other campus organizations. What started as a small pilot is now active at five schools and has been formally recognized by Access ASU.
Recreating out most popular after school workshop for Summer Intensives: vision boarding.
Recreating out most popular after school workshop for Summer Intensives: vision boarding.
TRIO Clubs transformed from a scheduling fix into a leadership pipeline, equipping students with communication skills, professional readiness, and the confidence to design their own futures.
Student Leadership and Recruitment
As TRIO Clubs grew, I wanted to ensure they weren’t just spaces where students participated—I wanted them to be spaces where students led. That’s where the Peer-to-Peer Recruitment Initiative began.
Peer-to-Peer Referral program materials
Peer-to-Peer Referral program materials
I identified highly engaged students and trained them as TRIO ambassadors. Their role was to:
- Share their experiences with classmates.
- Guide peers through the TRIO application process.
- Promote workshops, clubs, and opportunities on their campuses.
To recognize their efforts, ambassadors earned community service hours and tangible rewards. More importantly, they developed public speaking, communication, and leadership skills—skills that will serve them in college, careers, and beyond.
The impact was powerful. Since its launch, the initiative has driven over 30% of our annual recruitment, with students themselves becoming the program’s most effective advocates. For many, this was the first time they saw themselves not just as participants, but as leaders shaping the future of their school communities.
Data-Driven Impact
While student leadership was central to building momentum, I also knew that data had to guide our decisions. Numbers reveal patterns that conversations alone can’t, and they help us act before students slip through the cracks.
I built a Python-coded Airtable database to track student demographics, progress, and engagement across all seven schools. This system automated outreach—sending newsletters, reminders, and personalized interventions at key moments. By analyzing engagement trends, I discovered that:
- Juniors often pulled back right after ACT results.
- Seniors disengaged during FAFSA deadlines and decision season.
- Students across grade levels avoided meetings after quarter progress reports.
With that insight, we timed our outreach and adjusted messaging to anticipate disengagement, offering encouragement and resources exactly when students needed them most.
A workshop I created and led.
A workshop I created and led.
The result: student participation increased by 40%, and we were able to redirect grant funds more equitably—expanding access to field trips, certifications, and workshops that mattered most to our students.
Student Contact Trends by Grade Level (Chronological, Nov 2025 Removed)
Student Contact Trends by Grade Level (Chronological, Nov 2025 Removed)
Community Partnerships
No program succeeds in isolation. Some of the most meaningful opportunities I’ve created for students have come through collaboration with counselors, teachers, and community partners.
TRIO Talent Search Summer Intensives career panel
TRIO Talent Search Summer Intensives career panel
At the school level, I worked with counselors to integrate TRIO support into existing events and built referral systems—like TRIO application drop boxes in guidance offices—that made our program more accessible.
Moderating a book talk with Alejandra Campoverdi, author of First Gen.
Moderating a book talk with Alejandra Campoverdi, author of First Gen.
These partnerships highlight my approach: build trust, align goals, and open doors so students can visualize and step into their immediate next opportunities.
A community partner is recognized at Senior Ceremony.
A community partner is recognized at Senior Ceremony.
Alignment with Rich Township
What excites me about Rich Township is the Enroll. Enlist. Employ. framework and commitment to preparing students for multiple postsecondary pathways—not just college, but also careers, certifications, and service. That intentional, future-focused approach reflects the same values I’ve built my work around: equitable access, student-centered programming, and data-informed decision-making.
Thank you!
