Thirteen BGSU faculty members and a number of students were honored recently at the 13th Annual Trio Awards Luncheon. Trio comprises the Upward Bound, Talent Search and Student Support Services programs, as well as Educational Opportunity Centers and the Ronald E. McNair Program.

Established under the Higher Education Act of 1965, these programs are designed to help low-income students overcome class, social and economic barriers to achieve academic success. Students receive specific services in academic instruction, advising and counseling, tutoring and exposure to cultural events. Sidney Childs is the BGSU director of Student Support Services.

The luncheon celebrated the achievements of all those participating in TRIO programs and the faculty and staff who have helped them fulfill their potential.

Students received awards for academic achievement, including 35 Dean’s List members, for achievements in writing and mathematics, for persistence and for service to others, such as tutoring.

Faculty and staff honored on National TRIO day were Cindy Bechstein, Ed Fiscus and Ruthann Vonseggern, all Division of Teaching and Learning; John Buckenmyer, director of the University Bookstore; Pat Carpenter, sociology; Jianin Chen and Louise Golden, English; Donna Nelson-Beene, general studies writing, English; Debra Cunningham, academic enhancement; John Hayden, Tom Hudson and Barbara Moses, all mathematics and statistics, and Bettina Shufford, director of the Center for Multicultural and Academic Initiatives.

Keynote speaker and author Jewel Diamond Taylor had words of encouragement and advice for the students. She urged them to "keep the main thing the main thing," always staying focused on their goals. Taylor exhorted them to do the things they don’t want to do in order to be able to do those they do want to do. She urged them not to avoid difficult math or science courses, because the skills learned in these will also teach them to be better thinkers. Role models are also very important, she said, as is surrounding oneself with positive people.

Tenacity and perseverance are perhaps most important, she said. "There are no semesters in life. Life goes on, and it will interrupt your plans, but you must regroup, rest and go on."