HANCOCK – Tracie Leix enjoyed the three years she took part in the Finlandia University TRIO Upward Bound program, and in part because of that experience, she recently received an award recognizing her efforts during and after high school.

Leix, who is manager of the local agency program with the Michigan Department of Transportation in Lansing, said although she knew she was going to college after graduating from Chassell High School, she wasn’t certain about how to pay for college.

“I needed the TRIO help to put all the pieces together,” she said.

On Nov. 17 in Grand Rapids, Leix received the TRIO Achiever award.

Offered through the U.S. Department of Education, TRIO programs are outreach and student services programs designed to identify and provide services for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, according to its website. “TRIO includes eight programs targeted to serve and assist low-income individuals, first-generation college students, and individuals with disabilities to progress through the academic pipeline from middle school to post-baccalaureate programs,” the website stated. “TRIO also includes a training program for directors and staff of TRIO projects.”

Leix said she graduated from Chassell High School in 1998. After graduating, she attended Michigan Technological University, receiving a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering in 2002.

Besides getting the financial help she needed for college, Leix said being part of TRIO helped build her confidence and developed her leadership skills.

“TRIO is a fantastic program,” she said.

Cindy Cowell, director of the TRIO student support services at Finlandia University, said TRIO began in 1974 as a program to assist low-income students and students who would be the first generation in their families to attend college.

Students learn how their skills can be used to help them get into college.

“We get top work with the students for the entire four years of high school,” she said.

In the beginning, Cowell said TRIO consisted of Upward Bound, Talent Search, and Student Support Services. Now, there are seven programs in the TRIO organization.

“Here at Finlandia, we have the original three,” she said.

Through the Upward Bound part of TRIO, Cowell said students attend four of five university campuses each year in order to give them a feel for what that experience would be like.

The TRIO program at Finlandia serves about 1,000 students annually, according to Cowell.

Kaye Morgan, who was president of the Educational Opportunity Association, said the organization assists high school students with professional development, advocacy and scholarship acquisition.

In order to receive the EOA Achiever award, Morgan said, students must come to the attention of the organization.

“They’re nominated, typically, by a local (TRIO) director,” she said.

Award winners are selected after much consideration, Morgan said.

“It’s not an easy process,” she said.

During the selection process, Morgan said what the nominees have done since graduating from high school is also considered. It’s important they still be engaged with the TRIO program and the local community.

Leix said while she was attending Tech she was a TRIO resident assistant for the summer program, a math tutor and she taught the Upward Bound math program one summer. She stays involved with the community when she comes home.

“I give a talk (to high school students),” she said.

She also talks to Tech students about engineering, Leix said.

Leix said receiving the EOA Achiever award was unexpected, because she doesn’t seek recognition of her efforts.

“I was overwhelmed,” she said.