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WSTA Mission
WSTA is a group of TRIO professionals who provide a venue to support the success of low-income, first-generation and underrepresented students to obtain a quality education. WSTA helps these underrepresented populations by promoting program development, disseminating best practices/high impact educational practices and collecting data on the students’ specific educational needs to assist our first-generation, low-income populations better. WSTA provides support services and opportunities not normally accessible to these students to help them reach their full potential and develop into professional individuals.
In order to best serve low-income, first-generation, and underrepresented students and improve the changing needs of these populations, WSTA sponsors professional conferences, meetings, training, mentoring and other educational forums for its members throughout the calendar year. WSTA understands the contribution that low-income, first-generation, and underrepresented students provide to our nation and believes in supporting these individuals as they pursue their higher education degree.
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Student Highlight
Shelly Hoffman
Grays Harbor College | Student Support Services
Shelly Hoffman is a TRIO SSS Alumni from Grays Harbor College, and she is also the new TRIO SSS/STEM Student Support Specialist!
“I am one of 4 children raised by a single parent. I dropped out of HS at 15 and had many failed attempts at college. At the age of 48 I returned for the final time. My challenge was working multiple jobs that barely put food on the table. I decided at 48 that it was now or never. I signed up with TRIO and I did everything I could to make sure I was successful, even if that meant bugging my specialist multiple times a week. Being a first-generation college student has impacted me tremendously. There is not only the knowledge that you can relax a little but also some pride in knowing that you are the role model for family younger than you. I found TRIO by accident, and my advisor happened to be in his office. I asked a few questions, and he embraced me 100%.
Being in TRIO has given me the skills I needed to succeed in classes, my personal life, and my new passions. I did not know that my life was about to change completely that first day I met Dave. I want to give more than I take from the world, and I believe that giving back to future students is part of that. TRIO helped me get closer to that because without them I don’t think I would have found myself. My hope is to learn my new role as a Student Support Specialist in a way that I can impact the lives of others to find their dreams and passions.”
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