2010 Excellence in TRIO Event a Success – Each year DSTO hosts two major events, a professional staff development event in the fall and the Excellence in TRIO Celebration and Awards program for students and family members in the spring. The events were combined in 2010 and held on Monday April 5th. Speakers from both the corporate and educational community provided information and support to staff in attendance. Mr. Donald Chupp of Fireside Partners, Inc. discussed the importance of branding and becoming a non-profit organization in order to maximize scholarship benefits to our students. He was followed by the Supervisor of Instruction in the Caesar Rodney School District, Mrs. Christine Alois. President of the regional TRIO organization, Ms. Corris Davis and Council of Opportunity in Education representatives Heath Alexander and Kim Young all praised the efforts of DSTO and encouraged support of state and national efforts to ensure continued funding of programs.

Secretary of the Delaware Department of Education Dr. Lillian Lowery was the keynote speaker for the celebration portion of the program, speaking to students and family members, as well as TRIO staff statewide, about the recent award of Race to the Top funds to Delaware schools and future implications for school improvement in Delaware. Thirteen Delaware students then received awards and recognition for their efforts as members of Delaware’s TRIO programs. The event ended with an announcement that as a result of event, funds were raised to support the 2010 DSTO scholarship fund. Click through the album showing events of the day.