My name is Carina Nolasco, and from 8th grade through 12th grade, I participated in the TRIO program within the Denison Community School District. Today, I am a proud graduate of Iowa State University and work as a planner in Spencer, Iowa. Without TRIO, I would not be where I am today. I faced many obstacles growing up and while being in college. As a first-generation Latina student, I didn’t always have the guidance or support I needed. I worked full-time throughout all five years of college just to stay afloat, often taking on overtime hours. For a while, I didn’t even have a reliable vehicle, and the constant pressure meant I rarely got the rest I needed. But everything began to change when I joined TRIO back in middle school. TRIO became a constant support system in my life from 8th grade all the way through high school graduation. Then, through TRIO’s GEAR UP program, I received scholarships every year from the fall of 2020 to the spring of 2025. That financial help, paired with the emotional encouragement I received, made college possible. I started my college journey at Western Iowa Tech Community College and later transferred to Iowa State University, where I proudly earned my second degree. While juggling work and school, TRIO gave me tutoring, mentorship, and consistent encouragement. They never gave up on me, even when I doubted myself. My counselors and peers became a second family who believed in my potential and pushed me to succeed.
Thousands of students like me depend on TRIO. Please fight to preserve this life changing program. It's not just a support system; it’s an investment in America’s future.
Carina Nolasco
