When Emma Leigh Hodgen graduated from high school, she wasn’t sure what she wanted to do. So she registered for classes at Western Iowa Tech Community College (WITCC). She stumbled across TRIO Student Support Services. Even though it was nearly closing time, TRIO staff sat with her for an hour, explaining the program and making her feel welcome. That moment convinced her to sign up.
TRIO became a lifeline when Emma Leigh faced setbacks. After losing a close friend, she struggled with grief and failed her first year. “They helped me realize that was okay,” she explained. “They made me feel more confident and showed me I could start again.” TRIO guided her through scholarships, wrote recommendation letters, and involved her in campus visits and conferences that built her professional skills.
One of Emma Leigh’s biggest achievements came when she was accepted to the University of Iowa, which was something she never thought possible. “I was always the student in summer school or the one with attendance issues,” she admitted. “TRIO helped me understand that it’s okay not to be perfect. They made me believe I was smart enough to succeed.”
Today, Emma Leigh is studying history at the University of Iowa with a minor in anthropology and a certificate in museum studies. She had an internship at the Sioux City Museum this summer and dreams of one day working in New York. “Even now, I know I can always come back to TRIO for support,” she said. For Emma Leigh, TRIO gave her the confidence to reimagine her future and the tools to pursue it.