TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) at Grays Harbor College is a federally funded program designed to help eligible students achieve their academic, personal, and career goals while successfully completing a college degree or certificate.
College is Challenging. You Don’t Have to Do It Alone.
TRIO SSS is here to help you navigate college, stay on track, and reach your goals. Whether you’re figuring out your first quarter, preparing to transfer, managing financial aid, or balancing school with everything else life throws at you, TRIO SSS provides personalized support every step of the way.
At Grays Harbor College, TRIO SSS is more than a program – it’s a community of students, advisors, and mentors who are invested in your success.
Eligibility
How do I know if I qualify?
Students qualify based on federal criteria and must meet at least one of the following:
- neither parent/guardian earned a bachelor’s degree
- meets income qualifications based on federal guidelines
- has a documented disability, as verified by the Grays Harbor College Accessibility Services (for additional information regarding services for students with disabilities, please visit Accessibility Services)
Each SSS participant must meet at least one of the above criteria and must also:
- Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
- Have earned their high school diploma or equivalent
- Be admitted and enrolled, or eligible to be enrolled, at GHC in the current or next academic term
- Be pursuing a first associate’s degree or certificate of completion
- Be in need of academic support
Program Benefits
How can TRIO help me?
- Academic Advising
- Career Exploration
- Referrals to Campus & Community Services
- Transfer Planning
- Student Success Workshops
- Student Enrichment Trips
- Financial Aid & Scholarship Application Assistance
- Textbook and Laptop Loans
- Computer & Printing Access
- Sense of Belonging
Next Steps
I’m interested in joining!
We invite you to fill out our online interest form or come by the office to fill out our application. We will sit down with you and get to know you and your plans here at the college. We want to hear about the areas in which we could be helpful and how we can best support you.
Contact Us
We’d love to hear from you!
Office Location: 1st floor of the Spellman Library (1500 Building), Room 1512
Office Hours: M-F, 8AM-4:30PM
Phone: 360-538-4076
Email: trio@ghc.edu.
TRIO SSS Staff
Meet the TRIO staff!
Leilani Polk
Student Support Specialist
Leilani Polk is passionate about helping students thrive in college. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Art & Writing from The Evergreen State College, where she was a member of the TRIO program. Leilani believes that everyone should have the opportunity to follow their passions. As a result of her passion for lifelong learning, she will be attending Kent State University in the Fall of 2026 to pursue a master’s in educational psychology.
In her spare time, she enjoys making memories with her husband and three children, working on creative art projects, and writing her novel – a sci-fi/thriller set in a fictional version of Grays Harbor County.
Contact Leilani
- Email: leilani.polk@ghc.edu
- Call: 360-538-2518
- Text: 360-589-4872 (8am-4pm)
Ginelle Hanaway
Director
Ginelle 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. She is incredibly grateful to have found a home in TRIO and at GHC. Ginelle and her team are here to guide you through the whole college process. When she isn’t working, you’ll find her working in her garden, baking, doing homework for her doctorate program, or spending time with her husband and two young kiddos.
Contact Ginelle
- Email: ginelle.hanaway@ghc.edu
- Call: 360-538-4029
- Text: 360-589-8016 (8am-4pm)
One grant has been 100% funded by the United States Department of Education: SSS Classic supports 160 students for a total of $286,109.00 per year.