Happy February, TRIO Nation! This month is a major milestone for our community as we celebrate National TRIO Day and the programs that change lives across the country.

To kick off the celebration, we are thrilled to welcome back Catherine Ybarra, Director of TRIO Upward Bound Math & Science at the College of the Sequoias. Catherine pulls back the curtain on her evolution from a first-year director to a seasoned leader. Tune in for a candid conversation on:

• The Learning Curve: Lessons learned from year one to today.
• The Balancing Act: Practical advice for maintaining work/life harmony.
• The Next Level: Catherine’s unique perspective on long-term professional growth.

Song referenced:

”Se Oyen Varias Lenguas” by LOS DOS DE TAMAULIPAS

Community Announcement Links:

TRIO Nation: Your voice is working! While Congress is moving to protect TRIO funding for 2026, we must remain vigilant. Administrative shifts still threaten the stability of TRIO grants. Take action now: Call your Congressional representatives today. Thank them for their bipartisan support and urge them to ensure TRIO programs remain fully funded and operational without delay. Let them know…TRIO Works!

Find your Congressional Representative

NCCU 2026 TRIO Student Access and Success Conference

TRIO Day Celebration Resources:

• https://coenet.org/national-trio-day-2/
• Regional Affiliates (check their website for info): https://coenet.org/our-affiliates/

A heartfelt thanks to our individual donors and Patrons on Patreon

• Dr. Jamie Motley
• Dr. Ryan Barone
• Dr. Jeff Nepute
• Angelica Vialpando
• Angelica Valdez
• Rosario Riley
• Eric LaMaster
• Jeff Kahlden
• Felicia Rivera
• Jaded Electronics

A huge thanks to our corporate sponsors

• TRIOjoblist.com
• NOSOTROS Education Center (NEC)
• TheTRIOstore.com powered by Proforma
• Longsdale Publishing
• StudentAccess

Cover Art and Voice Over Work

Cover Art: Raul Perez

Voice Over Ad for Longsdale Publishing and StudentAccess: Amelia Castaneda

Voice Over Ad for NOSOTROS Education Center: Karla Sandoval

The Let’s Talk TRIO Podcast Team

John Russell: Music Composer, Music Performer, Audio Engineer, and Post-Production Editor

Amelia Castaneda: Script Supervisor, Marketing Manager, Social Manager, and Producer

Juan M. Rivas: Executive Producer & Host

Follow us on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram

Visit the Let’s Talk TRIO Podcast Webpage

TRIO Nation, we’re back! After a short hiatus, we’re returning to our roots: sharing the powerful stories that define our community. In this episode, we sit down with Cassandra Puletapuai, a TRIO McNair staff member at Colorado State University.

Cassandra opens up about the hurdles and triumphs of her educational journey, her current pursuit of a PhD, and the "full circle" moment of becoming a mentor for the very program that fuels her passion. Tune in to hear how her background shaped her success and why she’s dedicated to lifting others as she climbs.

Community Announcement Links:

TRIO Nation: Your voice is working! While Congress is moving to protect TRIO funding for 2026, we must remain vigilant. Administrative shifts still threaten the stability of TRIO grants. Take action now: Call your Congressional representatives today. Thank them for their bipartisan support and urge them to ensure TRIO programs remain fully funded and operational without delay. Let them know…TRIO Works!

• Find your Congressional Representative
• NCCU 2026 TRIO Student Access and Success Conference

A heartfelt thanks to our individual donors and Patrons on Patreon

• Dr. Jamie Motley
• Dr. Ryan Barone
• Dr. Jeff Nepute
• Angelica Vialpando
• Angelica Valdez
• Rosario Riley
• Eric LaMaster
• Jeff Kahlden
• Felicia Rivera
• Jaded Electronics

A huge thanks to our corporate sponsors

• TRIOjoblist.com
• NOSOTROS Education Center (NEC)
• TheTRIOstore.com powered by Proforma
• Longsdale Publishing
• StudentAccess

Cover Art and Voice Over Work

Cover Art: Raul Perez

Voice Over Ad for Longsdale Publishing and StudentAccess: Amelia Castaneda

Voice Over Ad for NOSOTROS Education Center: Karla Sandoval

The Let’s Talk TRIO Podcast Team

John Russell: Music Composer, Music Performer, Audio Engineer, and Post-Production Editor

Amelia Castaneda: Script Supervisor, Marketing Manager, Social Manager, and Producer

Juan M. Rivas: Executive Producer & Host

Follow us on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram

Visit the Let’s Talk TRIO Podcast Webpage

In this special edition limited series, the Let's Talk TRIO podcast is proud to feature first-gen voices at Colorado State University. This episode was made possible in collaboration with Colorado State University's First-Generation Student Organization (FGSO) and the TRIO Programs.

In this episode we feature Maria de Jesus, a student at Colorado State University studying Human Development and Family Studies. Listen as Maria shares her first-gen experience.

Community Announcement Links:

TRIO Nation - Call your congressional representatives to defend TRIO! The most recent proposed budget aims to eliminate TRIO programs. Alumni, participants, and advocates are encouraged to reach out to their senators and representatives. Let them know…TRIO Works!

Find your Congressional Representative

NCCU 2026 TRIO Student Access and Success Conference

A heartfelt thanks to our individual donors and Patrons on Patreon

• Dr. Jamie Motley
• Dr. Ryan Barone
• Dr. Jeff Nepute
• Angelica Vialpando
• Angelica Valdez
• Rosario Riley
• Eric LaMaster
• Jeff Kahlden
• Felicia Rivera
• Jaded Electronics

A huge thanks to our corporate sponsors

• TRIOjoblist.com
• NOSOTROS Education Center (NEC)
• TheTRIOstore.com powered by Proforma
• Longsdale Publishing
• StudentAccess

Cover Art and Voice Over Work

Cover Art: Raul Perez

Voice Over Ad for Longsdale Publishing and StudentAccess: Amelia Castaneda

Voice Over Ad for NOSOTROS Education Center: Karla Sandoval

The Let’s Talk TRIO Podcast Team

John Russell: Music Composer, Music Performer, Audio Engineer, and Post-Production Editor

Amelia Castaneda: Script Supervisor, Marketing Manager, Social Manager, and Producer

Juan M. Rivas: Executive Producer & Host

Follow us on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram

Visit the Let’s Talk TRIO Podcast Webpage