About
In the early 1970’s, TRIO programs in Delaware were very limited in number. There was one Upward Bound program, one Student Special Services Program for Disadvantaged Students (now Student Support Services), and one state-wide Talent Search program. Two of the three programs were hosted by one institution. Talent Search was sponsored and hosted by a non-postsecondary institution. The project directors of the above programs attended meetings conducted by the regional office and were able to meet other project directors to share valuable information on the administration and progress of their programs. This interaction continued for several years. In 1976, the directors and their staff met for the purpose of uniting as a formal group so that Delaware would become a charter member of the regional organization now known as the Mid-Eastern Association of Educational Opportunity Program Personnel (MEAEOPP). This meeting was held, and indeed, it was successful.
Many issues about the programs were shared during that first meeting. During the meeting, a formal body was organized-in that officers were selected to represent our state wherever necessary-especially in meetings conducted by the U.S. Department of Education. A preamble was prepared and approved. The next important item was to approve a name for the group. Delaware State TRIO Organization was the name selected and approved. A further note of interest was to review the need to have a bank account for the newly-formed body. A local bank was selected and the new treasurer of DSTO assumed the financial responsibility of the organization. After much discussion, the membership unanimously approved assessing each person an annual membership fee of $20. The new president of the group and all other members began the initial operations of organization with approximately fifty dollars, used to open the account for our state organization.
The Delaware State TRIO Organization, formed in 1976, hosted the first MEAEOPP Conference held in our region. The conference was held at the Sheraton located north of Wilmington off I-95. Participating states included Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia.
There are currently 14 TRIO programs in Delaware including two McNair Scholars programs and three Student Support Services Program.