TRIO Student Support Services / STEM

TRIO provides assistance to students who are new or unfamiliar with the college system. Our activities are designed to increase students’ academic success at GHC and assist in transfer to four-year schools.

About TRIO     A picture of two students talking to each other                                  

TRIO is a federally funded program that works with 280 students each year. This gives the TRIO staff the time to get to know you and find out how we can help.

Get More Information

To find out more, stop by the Library, room 1512, give us a call at 360-538-2537, text us at 360-544-9055, or email us at trio@ghc.edu.

What does TRIO do?

The most important thing that TRIO does is Process Education, teaching students how to be successful in the college environment. There are many excellent faculty here who teach specific academic material, but TRIO teaches students how to make it through college!

Along with teaching students how to be successful in college, we offer:

  • Guidance and Support
  • Academic assistance
  • Book Loan
  • Laptop Loan
  • Tutoring
  • Transfer planning
  • College catalogs and materials
  • Long term academic planning
  • College visits/tours
  • Scholarship writing
  • FAFSA completion
  • Learning style assessment
  • College transfer strategy
  • Contact with college recruiters
  • Provide workshops designed to help you succeed
  • Cultural and education events
  • Sense of Belonging

This all comes together in the development of a Master Achievement Plan, where you outline your path to success and we help you meet your goals.

Getting Started

We look at a few things to get you started; are you eligible, do you have need, and do you want to complete your education.

Eligibility

  1. A U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
  2. Currently enrolled or accepted to Grays Harbor College.
  3. Meet one or more of the following criteria:
    • A first-generation college student (neither parent has received a four-year degree).
    • Income eligible based on federal standards, if you receive a Pell Grant you may qualify.
    • Receiving services from AccessAbility Services (formerly Disability Support Services).
  4. Have not received an Associate or Bachelor Degree
  5. Have an academic need and be motivated to complete an Associate’s degree or Certificate from Grays Harbor College.
  6. Will pursue a four-year degree.

Next Steps

We sit down and get to know your plans here at the college. We want to hear about the areas we could be helpful. That could be academics, career planning, or academic planning. During this conversation we look at your school experience and your goals for the future. We want to see what areas we can help with. Either way, we can help!

Located on the 1st floor of the Spellman Building (1500) in room 1512. Our hours are 8:30 am - 4:00 pm, Monday-Friday. You can also call us at 360-538-2537.

TRIO Staff

Michelle Roos

Michelle Roos

TRIO Program Coordinator Michelle Roos is not only a proud GHC alum, but has worked at the college for 32 years and has seen and helped countless students passing through the college’s doors. To Michelle “There is nothing more satisfying than watching students grow, excel and reach their dreams.” She lists crafting - or at least buying lots of craft supplies – as a hobby as well as a love of tap dancing. In the category of things that others might not know about her, Michelle reveals that her dog Buckley runs the show at home!

Kenji Seta

Kenji Seta

Student Support Specialist Kenji Seta started at GHC at a part-time math instructor as well as working on several years as the coordinator of the GHC Learning Center before joining the TRIO staff. Before that, he spent 20 Years in the Air Force as a radar operator, seven years at Home Depot and teaching engineering classes, but lists his job in TRIO as his most rewarding yet. Along the way he has earned a bachelor’s degree in engineering, his MS in management and is now a doctoral candidate in education at the University of Washington - Tacoma. He’s circumnavigated the globe and lists his Bacon Number as an impressive 3. 

Shelly Hoffman

Shelly Hoffman

Student Support Specialist Shelly Hoffman has been providing support in TRIO since July 2022. She is a TRIO Alum and graduated with her Bachelor's in Organizational Management at Grays Harbor College. She is currently working on her Master's in organizational leadership at Eastern Washington University. Her favorite part of her TRIO job is helping students see their full potential. Her hobbies are camping, clamming, and kayaking.

Ginelle Hanaway

Ginelle Hanaway

Student Support Specialist Ginelle Hanaway has worked in higher education for most of her career. Her M.Ed. TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) from Seattle University has allowed her to travel the world and teach English at a variety of educational institutions - from Seattle to China, from Indonesia to Türkiye. Consequently, Ginelle is a big believer that diversity is what makes the world beautiful! She is your “go-to” person at TRIO SSS for scholarships, study abroad and internship opportunities, and international student resources. When Ginelle isn’t working, you’ll find her working in her garden, baking, bingeing a good show, or spending lots of time with her husband and two young kiddos.

JEB Thornton

JEB Thornton

Director of TRIO – Student Support Services, JEB Thornton, has been at the college since 2005, serving a number of roles. JEB has returned to TRIO work with students. Teaching students how to get through college has been his primary focus. GHC has excellent faculty who focus on academic disciplines, but who will coach you through the whole college process? JEB and the TRIO team will.

TRIO Student Support Services is entirely funded through two grants from the U.S. Department of Education. One of the grants is for a “classic” project and is funded at $286,109 a year, while the other has a STEM focus and is funded at $272,888 a year. Both grants focus of serving Low-income and/or First-Generation students.