Lone Star College-Tomball’s TRIO Student Support Services (TRIO SSS) received the Boys and Girls Country (BGC) 2024 Education Partner of the Year award for being a valued partner for over 10 years.
“It’s truly an honor to receive the BGC educational partner award,” said Rosalin Lambey, LSC-Tomball TRIO SSS director. “We tell all our students that their goals become our goals. TRIO is truly a partner to all our students, so to be recognized as such means a lot to me and my team.”
BGC is a licensed residential home that serves children and young adults (ages 5-25) who have a background of poverty or abuse. BGC provides these children with a secure, stable, Christian home environment emphasizing building healthy relationships, setting future goals, and education.
LSC-Tomball TRIO SSS has served on the property of BGC planting gardens and painting cabinets, but the day-to-day connection takes place at the college, as the BGC young adults, many of whom are first-generation college students, receive TRIO specialized support services, including academic advising, tutoring, mentoring, and career, college, and life success workshops.
In his former role as TRIO SSS Staff Assistant, Durell Forte facilitated access to TRIO services for the youth of BGC. He called himself the “middleman” establishing intake interviews, scheduling students' appointments with TRIO advisors, and generally getting the kids’ college journeys started on the best possible foot.
“We had a BGC student from Waller. I got her to come in for an eligibility interview and had her signed up for TRIO services the same week,” said Forte. “Later, that student told me she had been on the verge of dropping out. But getting her connected to a TRIO mentor and giving her a place to land here at the college, a place she felt she belonged, made the difference. She eventually went on to graduate. That’s the greatest reward, seeing these kids walk across the graduation stage.”
Lambey and TRIO SSS Advisors Robin Brockinton, and Lori Stephens attended the annual BGC Friend of Children Award Ceremony and received the Education Partner Award.
“We will continue to provide the BGC youth with the TRIO SSS program, and now with the addition of our TRIO Educational Talent Search Grant, we can also serve the 8th-12th grade students from BGC, too,” said Lambey. “LSC- Tomball TRIO SSS is committed to continue to grow and strengthen our BGC partnership in the years ahead.”