The TRiO program is a nationally funded grant that provides additional services and support to students who are the first in their families to pursue college, face income challenges, or live with disabilities—often, our TRiO students are all three.
Necessary Narratives
Tell your story.
Student Spotlights
Richard started at HC in the fall of 2023 and transferred to Montana Tech in the spring of 2025 to pursue his degree in Radiologic Technology. While at Helena College, Richard was a valued work-study employee in the library.
see what happens
“I was thinking back to the moment I signed up for class, and the moment I got my acceptance letter—I seriously considered backing back out because being a kid in school, being bullied constantly, to turn around and have it dumped back at home, did not make me very confident to come back to school because I was afraid I was going to do what I always did—which was fail.”
“First semester, I got a 3.48 for a total, which was nuts. What really surprised me was I had a 35% in Basic Human Biology, and I managed to bring that all the way up to an 85 by the end. I almost quit because of that 35. I almost dropped. But something told me to keep putting the work in—you’ll see what happens.”
April started at HC in the fall of 2022 and graduated with an AA in general education in the spring of 2024. She will be attending the University of Montana in the fall as a Davidson Honors Scholar and plans to study social work.
embrace the change
“[I was able] to see…this is who I was, not who I am. I was already starting to show myself…You’re already taking what you did in the past and doing something positive going forward, so you’re already changing your narrative. Why not continue that trajectory and do something positive and be something positive…. I really just embraced the change.”