“Each year we visit sites, such as museums, theaters, performances, and other areas of interest that can expose our students to resources for career planning,” said Emmanuel C. John Aguon, education specialist within the TRiO Program.

The TRiO Student Support Services program assists and motivates students in need of additional academic support, including low-income and first-generation college students and students with learning or physical disabilities. The Career and Cultural Field Trip is an annual event, supplementing the program’s other services of providing tutoring, advisement, workshops, and financial aid assistance.

During the all-day outing, the students visited Guam Regional Medical City, Two Lover’s Point, the Latte of Freedom/Hall of Governors, the Guam Museum, and the Asan Bay Overlook.

“The most interesting thing about the field trip was learning how hospitals on Guam run and how they have jobs for the majority of majors offered at the University of Guam, such as nursing, accounting, communications, and business,” said freshman psychology major Walter Short.

In addition to visiting various sites, the students got to hear from UOG alumna Krystal Paco, who used to be a TRiO student herself in the Upward Bound program, on how UOG prepared her for the real world. After graduating from UOG, Paco became the anchorwoman for KUAM and is now the press secretary for the governor of Guam and an adjunct instructor for communication courses at UOG. She is also currently pursuing her Master of Public Administration from UOG.

“UOG is very close to my heart, and I credit a lot of my success to my time there,” Paco said. “The TRiO Program was incredibly important to me as I’m a first-generation college student.”

Short said the TRiO program has had a lot of value for him.

“I believe students should join TRiO because it works,” Short said. “Students will get the help they need from people who care about our future. TRiO is there to guide us and provide the resources we need to do well in college.”

Join TRiO’s Student Support Services

The TRiO Student Support Services program is specifically for enrolled UOG students who are low-income or first-generation or for students with disabilities. Students may apply for the program or get more information on the TRiO webpage.