[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 111 (Thursday, July 31, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S8616]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page S8616]]
                        STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES

 Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Mr. President, I would like to take this 
opportunity to recognize two students of Potomac State College in West 
Virginia who have accomplished great feats through the assistance of 
our Federal TRIO programs. These programs have helped students for more 
than 30 years to overcome financial barriers to education.
  Paul Kesner was a participant in the student support services program 
at Potomac State from 1977 to 1979. This section of the TRIO programs 
helps students to stay in college until they earn their baccalaureate 
degree by providing tutoring, counseling, and financial assistance. Not 
only was Paul able to earn his BA, he went on to obtain an MS in 
counseling psychology from Frostburg State University, and is currently 
working on his dissertation to earn a Ph.D. from West Virginia 
University. Paul is currently the Dean of Student Affairs at Potomac 
State College.
  Paul was recently elected to be president of the West Virginia 
Association of Student Personnel Administrators. Paul is also very 
active in Rotary International and various other local civic 
organizations in his community. Paul, who grew up on a farm in Mineral 
County, WV, notes that, ``I am grateful for the impact and change TRIO 
had on my life. Without it, I certainly would not be in a situation to 
help others progress toward their own educational goals.''
  Michelle Francis participated in the student support services program 
at Potomac State from 1989 to 1990. This Federal program helped 
Michelle to graduate from college and to make the career choices that 
she wanted to make. After earning an associate's degree from Potomac 
State, Michelle went on to earn her BA from Frostburg State University.
  Michelle is presently the day treatment coordinator at the 
developmental center & workshop in Keyser. Like Paul, Michelle is also 
very active in her community, serving in the Ladies Auxiliary of the 
American Legion, and as a mentor at the Mountaineer Challenge Academy. 
Michelle was also awarded the 1996 West Virginia TRIO achiever award.
  As the fine results of these two West Virginia citizens demonstrate, 
the TRIO programs are clearly helping Americans to overcome financial, 
social, academic and cultural barriers to earn their college degrees. 
Since 1965, when the Federal TRIO programs began receiving funding 
under title IV of the Higher Education Act, the facts have shown that 
students who participate in the TRIO student support services program 
are more than twice as likely to remain in college than those students 
from similar backgrounds who did not participate in the program.
  Paul and Michelle have joined the ranks of many West Virginians who 
have achieved outstanding feats after participating in the TRIO 
programs. Thirty years ago, the TRIO programs were founded on the basis 
that all Americans deserved the opportunity to achieve a college 
education regardless of race, ethnic background, or economic 
circumstances. Today, the town of Keyser is a better place in which to 
live because of the contributions of Paul Kesner and Michelle Francis 
to the community. Because the TRIO programs were there for Michelle and 
Paul, they have been able to be there for the benefit of other West 
Virginians.
  I know that the TRIO programs will continue to help future West 
Virginia students to obtain a college degree, and because of this, 
these future students will be able to benefit their respected 
communities in much the same way that Paul and Michelle help the city 
of Keyser, WV. The TRIO programs don't just create a real society of 
opportunity for everyone, they result in better cities and communities 
throughout the State of West Virginia and nationwide.

                          ____________________