3 TCC Students Inducted into Oklahoma TRIO Hall of Fame

Three Tulsa Community College students were inducted into the Oklahoma TRIO Hall of Fame, a statewide recognition that celebrates the success of students in the federally funded TRIO Student Support Services program.

Three Tulsa Community College students—Sergio Perez, Jennifer Roblada, and Zam Tuang—were inducted into the Oklahoma TRIO Hall of Fame, a statewide recognition that celebrates the success of students in the federally funded TRIO Student Support Services program.

Focused on supporting first-generation, low-income, and disabled students in their pursuit of higher education, the TRIO SSS program offers free academic, career, university transfer, and financial aid assistance for eligible students.

TCC Director of TRIO SSS Joseph Schnetzer said it’s rewarding to see TRIO students persevere and succeed.

“It is inspirational to see our students excel as high achievers. I am so proud of our TRIO SSS students and our amazing and dedicated staff that supports them,” says Schnetzer.

Sergio Perez

Sergio Perez, a Marine Corps veteran majoring in Physics, transitioned to TCC from the University of Central Oklahoma, where he was a music major. He credits the TRIO program with providing him the guidance and support he needed during a challenging academic transition.

“As I transitioned out of the Marine Corps, I faced many challenges—the fear of not belonging, imposter syndrome, a troubled academic past, and much more,” Perez says. “But when I heard about TRIO, it felt like a calling. At TRIO, I found a welcoming community that encouraged me to strive for more than I ever thought possible.”

Jennifer Roblada

Jennifer Roblada is pursuing an Associate of Science in Enterprise Development and expressed her gratitude for the support she received through TRIO.

“TRIO has been a huge support in helping me overcome the challenges I've faced while working toward my education,” she says. “The staff genuinely cared about my success and always pushed me to stay focused on my goals. Thanks to TRIO, I’ve pushed through the tough moments and stayed on track with my education.”

Roblada said TRIO staff frequently checked on her when she was feeling overwhelmed by assignments and struggling in her personal life, and their motivation and resources helped her push through challenges.

Zam Tuang

Zam Tuang, an Electrical Engineering major, highlighted the TRIO program's invaluable resources.

“Participating in a TRIO program provides invaluable benefits that support students academically, personally, and financially,” Tuang notes. “TRIO equips students with the tools to excel academically and prepare for a successful future.”

As part of the recognition, each Hall of Fame honoree has been awarded a $750 TRIO Achiever Scholarship, funded by the TCC Foundation, to support their continued academic journeys.

Surpassing Goals

TCC’s TRIO SSS program boasted strong completion numbers at the end of 2024. The program met its goal of enrolling 165 students and far exceeded all grant objectives:

• The program set a target of 15% for students to graduate and transfer to a four-year institution by the following Fall term, achieving a 43% transfer rate—its highest to date.
• The program aimed for 77% of its students to maintain good academic standing, and 96% achieved this goal.
• The objective of 57% for Fall-to-Fall persistence was surpassed with a 85% persistence rate.
• The goal of having 25% of students graduate within four years was exceeded, with a graduation rate of 62%.

Schnetzer said this level of excellence does not happen by accident.

“This is the result of robust programming, abundant resources, intentional planning, and expert delivery of the goals and objectives of the grant.  We are blessed every day with the opportunity to positively impact the lives of our students in a very real way,” says Schnetzer.

TRIO SSS offers a variety of workshops and campus visits each semester. Workshops focus on study skills, time management, stress management, financial aid, scholarship searches, transfer opportunities, leadership, teamwork, and other topics that strengthen student persistence. TRIO SSS Students are also invited to attend a variety of cultural events that are scheduled throughout the semester. These events may include trips to museums, performing art functions, and more.

Students attending any TCC campus may apply for selection to TRIO SSS. Those interested can find more information at TCC TRIO Student Support Services.