Jadé Milton, Mary Anthony and Todjer Morrell help fellow students succeed in college
TRIO Student Support Services at Inver Hills Community College provides services to low-income students, first-generation college students, and disabled students enrolled in postsecondary education programs. Eligible students may receive (among other services) personal and academic career counseling, career guidance, instruction, mentoring and tutoring.
The goal of TRIO SSS is to increase the college retention and graduation rates of program participants and help students make the transition from one level of higher education to the next.
Each year, TRIO SSS at Inver Hills selects 140 students to participate in the program. Students must be either a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, enrolled in a degree program and taking a minimum of 6 credits. Students must also meet at least one of the following federal eligibility criteria:
- First-generation college student (parent or guardian did not hold a bachelor’s degree while the student was in high school)
- Meet federal income guidelines
- Be eligible to receive accommodations through Disability Services at Inver Hills.
More about mentoring…
Alicia Atwater, TRIO SSS advisor, reported that TRIO mentors focus on interacting with students in a variety of ways, including:
- Talking with students in the office to see how classes are going
- Helping students understand assignments and D2L as necessary
- Working with students on understanding their rights on campus and campus advocacy
- Helping connect students with other resources based on either meeting 1:1 or by overhearing conversations
- Mentoring new TRIO students on academic and personal topics by using SMART goals
- Designing flyers for events
- Facilitating cultural dialogues
- Presenting at Student Success Days on research topics of their own choosing.
“Mentors who work over the summer are integral in planning our Summer Bridge program,” Alicia added, “especially this last year by creating an escape room from scratch, including props.”
TRIO SSS student mentors
Jadé Milton
Sophomore
Age: 20
Hometown: West Saint Paul, Minnesota
Current residence: Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota
High school and year graduated: South St.Paul | Class of 2016
Extracurricular activities at Inver: Psychology Club and DECA Club
Major and degree at Inver Hills: Sports Management and A.A. degree
Transfer plans: I plan on transferring to Minnesota State University, Mankato, or the University of Tampa
Career plans: I hopefully plan on working for the Minnesota Lynx some day, but I’m not sure what I would exactly want to do.
Three words that describe you as a college student:
MOTIVATED. ENTHUSIASTIC. DETERMINED.
Pastimes and hobbies: I love to sing, play volleyball, hangout with family and friends, and enjoy Aztec Danza.
Why did you become a TRIO SSS mentor?
I became a mentor because my previous TRIO mentor had said I would be great for the position. I have been a TRIO student since 9th grade and love all of the attention and all of the help I get from TRIO so I also wanted to give back to students who were in my position once. I am able to help them with smart goals and if they have any questions or concerns about things on campus. Also, TRIO is like a big happy family that wants their students to succeed so I am proud to be a TRIO mentor and apart of the TRIO family.
12 Answers
- Favorite sport or physical activity: Volleyball and Aztec Danza
- Place you would most like to visit: I would like to visit Hawaii
- The most exciting thing you’ve ever done: Ziplining upside down at Wisconsin Dells
- Your personal motto if you had to have one: “Get your poop in a group.”
- Favorite all-time TV show: Empire
- Favorite all-time movie: The Help
- One thing you most want to accomplish in life: Owning my own house
- Most precious material possession: Jewelry Box my grandma gave to me
- Dream occupation: Working for the Minnesota Lynx
- Person you would most like to meet: Tyler Perry
- Skill you would most like to learn and master: Learning spanish
- Most important issue or problem facing humankind: Natural disasters
Mary Anthony
Sophomore
Age: 22
Hometown: Welch, Minnesota
High school and year graduated: Red Wing | Class of 2013
Extracurricular activities at Inver: TRIO
Major and degree at Inver Hills: A.A. with an Emphasis in Psychology
Transfer plans: Hawai’i Pacific University and Hamline University for public health
Career plans: Epidemiology investigator
Three words that describe you as a college student:
ORGANIZED. COMMITTED. EXHAUSTED.
Pastimes and hobbies: Volleyball, photography, ballroom dancing
Why did you become a TRIO SSS mentor?
I became a TRIO mentor because Alicia told me to and because I wanted to help other students succeed in college.
Other degrees, diplomas or certificates:
- Heart of a Leader Certification
- TEFL Certification
- B2 Russian Language Certification
12 Answers
- Favorite sport or physical activity: Volleyball
- Place you would most like to visit: Either the Kamchatka Peninsula or Thailand
- The most exciting thing you’ve ever done: Scuba diving in the Florida Keys
- Your personal motto if you had to have one: “Do everything you’ll regret not doing.”
- Favorite all-time TV show: Supernatural
- Favorite all-time movie: Wonder Woman
- One thing you most want to accomplish in life: Have breakfast at Perkins every morning with my friends when I retire.
- Most precious material possession: My photos
- Dream occupation: A job that I’m excited to wake up for in the mornings and that pays enough for me to give out scholarships to students who want to study abroad.
- Person you would most like to meet: Gal Gadot
- Skill you would most like to learn and master: Some form of martial arts
- Most important issue or problem facing humankind: Destruction of natural resources and misallocation of resources.
Todjer Morrell
Sophomore
Age: 20
Hometown: Farmington, Minnesota
Current residence: Rosemount, Minnesota
High school and year graduated: School of Environmental Studies | Class of 2015
Major and degree at Inver Hills: A.A. degree
Transfer plans: None currently
Career plans: Traveling before returning to school to pursue a teaching license.
Three words that describe you as a college student:
INITIATIVE. PERSEVERING. SYSTEMATIC.
Pastimes and hobbies: Hiking, camping, traveling, swimming, hunting and martial arts
Why did you become a TRIO SSS mentor?
I became a mentor for TRIO for a few reasons; I had extra time while on campus between classes and was a very active student of the TRIO program. I knew becoming a mentor would help to give me knowledge and expertise in a field of work that I had not experienced before.
12 Answers
- Favorite sport or physical activity: Martial arts
- Place you would most like to visit: The Amazon
- The most exciting thing you’ve ever done: Visited the Bahamas and Australia
- Your personal motto if you had to have one: “Be prepared.”
- Favorite all-time TV show: When I was a child I couldn’t exist without Zoboomafoo.
- Favorite all-time movie: Rise of the Guardians
- One thing you most want to accomplish in life: Travel the world
- Most precious material possession: My GPS
- Dream occupation: Photographer and journalist for National Geographic
- Person you would most like to meet: Ryan Reynolds
- Skill you would most like to learn and master: I would like to master a martial discipline
- Most important issue or problem facing humankind: The misuse of our natural world
To learn more about TRIO Student Support Services at Inver Hills, contact:
Matt Kruger
TRIO Student Support Services Director
Travelers EDGE Director
651-450-3701
Alicia Atwater
TRIO Student Support Services Advisor
651-450-3558
Carolyn Vue
TRIO Student Support Services Advisor
Travelers EDGE Advisor
651-450-3742
To learn more about earning an Associate of Arts (A.A.) degree at Inver Hills, contact:
Admissions Team
651-450-3000
College Center
