VICTORIA OLGUIN – NEWS EDITOR
For first-generation, low-income, or students with disabilities, taking the steps to further their education can be difficult. However, with the AMP/TRiO program offered at St. Mary’s University, students are able to thrive with the given resources. Standing for Achieving Maximum Potential, the AMP/TRiO program offers a variety of resources and opportunities such as tutoring, financial literacy workshops, networking, and entrance exam preparation. This program also offers plentiful resources to its participants.
Of all of the resources offered by the program, some of the students’ favorite resources in the program are out-of-state trips. Just recently, on Feb. 25, students in the AMP/TRiO program made their way to Washington D.C. for The National Student Conference on Hispanic Politics. Students who first heard of the opportunity were quick to apply. For freshman finance and risk management major and AMP/TRiO student, Liliana Rojas, the experience was a great one.
“I attended the first conference and had such a good time that I wanted to return again!” Rojas said. “We were given opportunities to attend their summer policy camp or their immigration conference the week before this one. Overall, I had a great experience and can’t wait to attend again, Rojas continued. The conference in Washington D.C. allowed students to connect with other top students and scholars interested in Hispanic issues. Many discussion panels took place, covering various topics. From ‘Overcoming Divisions in American Life,’ ‘The Future of Hispanics in the Workforce,’ and ‘American Identity, Nationalism and Belonging,’ students who attended the panels were able to leave with a greater appreciation for the diversity in Hispanic communities, as well as a greater understanding of the importance in bipartisan dialogue. Additionally, students were able to gain friends and colleagues that would support each other throughout their careers. It is for this reason that students were able to see the importance of the conference.
“It’s important to attend a conference like this since it talks about heavy topics concerning Hispanics. You didn’t have to be Hispanic either to attend. The friends and connections I made are amazing. Everyone is excited to meet new people,” Rojas said. Students who attended the trip were offered reimbursement for travel costs, meals, and reserved rooms in downtown D.C., allowing many to enjoy and learn from their trip without worrying about costs. Students in the AMP/TRiO program have not only been given the opportunity to travel to Washington D.C., but to other locations like Miami as well. The program is now preparing for more trips in the future.
“I enjoyed Miami and the luxury hotel we stayed in. For Washington D.C., we had the chance to stay in hotels that presidents have stayed in,” Rojas said. “We take trips to places that would benefit our knowledge as students, for example, last semester we took a trip to Texas A&M University-Kingsville and visited the graduate schools there. This semester, we took a trip to the Food Bank to see the different career options there and to learn about non-profit organizations,” senior psychology major and academic tutor for the AMP/TRiO program, Sophia Munoz continued.
Students in the AMP/TRiO program are grateful for the opportunities offered and are looking forward to seeing what the program will offer in the future. To apply to the AMP/TRiO program, visit https://www.stmarytx.edu/academics/resources/rattler-success/amp-trio/.