SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. — The U.S. Department of Education has awarded Western Nebraska Community College a federal TRIO Student Support Services grant totaling $416,576 annually to improve college retention and graduation rates among low-income, first-generation students, and students with disabilities.

This award marks the continuation of 38 years of TRIO SSS services at WNCC. Since 1987, the program has served over 200 students annually, helping them stay in school, earn degrees, and build meaningful careers.

Through individualized services including academic tutoring, financial aid, scholarship guidance, career exploration, personal and academic counseling, and mentoring, TRIO SSS empowers students to overcome barriers to success. These comprehensive supports make it significantly more likely that students will complete their degree or successfully transfer, with the lowest possible debt.

“This grant allows Western Nebraska Community College to deepen the commitment to ensuring that all students can thrive academically and personally,” said TRIO Programs Director Tonya DeWitt. “Student Support Services helps level the playing field and equips our students with the tools and confidence to graduate from college, lead in meaningful careers, and succeed in life.”

Nationally, the SSS program has a proven track record. According to a 2019 evaluation by the U.S. Department of Education, students in SSS at two-year institutions were 48% more likely to earn an associate’s degree or transfer to a four-year school.

“TRIO programs generally and TRIO SSS, in particular, transforms students from the least resourced backgrounds into college graduates,” said Kimberly Jones, president of the Council for Opportunity in Education in Washington, D.C. “This vital program makes all the difference for nearly a million students each year across the country.”