TRiO
Personalized Support to Help You Succeed in College and Beyond
College is full of opportunities, but it can also come with challenges. TRiO Student Support Services (SSS) is here to help you overcome obstacles, build confidence, and achieve your academic, personal, and career goals.
TRiO SSS is a federally funded program that provides free support services for eligible State Fair Community College students. Whether you're the first in your family to attend college, have a documented disability, or meet income eligibility requirements, our team is committed to helping you succeed from your first semester through graduation and transfer.
Best of all, TRiO SSS services are available at all SFCC campus locations, including Boonville, Clinton, Eldon, Lake of the Ozarks, Sedalia, and Whiteman Air Force Base.
Apply for TRiO Student Support Services
How TRiO Student Support Services Can Help
TRiO SSS offers personalized, holistic support designed to help students thrive academically, professionally, and personally.
Participants receive free services including:
- Personalized academic advising
- One-on-one success coaching
- Tutoring
- Career exploration
- FAFSA completion assistance
- Financial literacy education
- Scholarship assistance
- Study skills and life skills workshops
- Transfer planning and assistance
- Visits to four-year colleges and universities
- Cultural enrichment activities
Our team works with you to build the skills, confidence, and resources needed to reach your educational goals.
TRiO Student Support Services serves students who meet federal eligibility requirements.
To qualify, students must:
- Be a U.S. citizen or legal resident
- Demonstrate academic need
- Demonstrate the ability to benefit from program services
In addition, students must meet at least one of the following criteria:
- Be a first-generation college student
- Meet federal low-income guidelines
- Have a documented disability
A first-generation college student is someone whose parent or guardian did not earn a four-year college degree before the student turned 18.
Students accepted into the program receive individualized support from a dedicated success team that includes a TRiO Success Coach and an Academic Coordinator.
Participants are encouraged to:
- Meet monthly with their Success Coach
- Utilize tutoring and academic support as needed
- Attend at least one workshop each semester
- Participate in one campus visit or cultural enrichment event each academic year
These experiences help students stay engaged, build confidence, and prepare for continued success after SFCC.
TRiO Student Support Services partners with the TRiO Student Organization (TSO) to provide additional opportunities for leadership, service, and community involvement.
Students interested in developing leadership skills, meeting other TRiO participants, and becoming more involved on campus are encouraged to join TSO.
TRiO programs were established through the Higher Education Act of 1965 to increase access to higher education and support student success.
TRiO Student Support Services became the third federally funded TRiO program in 1968 and has helped millions of students across the country achieve their educational goals.
State Fair Community College has proudly offered TRiO Student Support Services since receiving its first federal grant in 2000. The program has continued through consecutive funding cycles, with the U.S. Department of Education renewing funding for SFCC through 2030.
Today, the program serves 160 students each academic year, providing individualized support through a competitive application process.
Why Choose TRiO SSS?
TRiO Student Support Services offers more than academic assistance. It provides a community of support that helps students build confidence, overcome challenges, and stay focused on graduation.
Participants benefit from:
- Personalized support from caring professionals
- Stronger academic and study skills
- Increased confidence and self-advocacy
- Financial aid and scholarship guidance
- Career and transfer planning
- Leadership and personal growth opportunities
Whether your goal is to earn a degree, transfer to a four-year university, or prepare for your future career, TRiO SSS is here to help you every step of the way.
Apply Today
Enrollment in TRiO Student Support Services is limited, and participation is based on a competitive application process.
If you think you may be eligible, we encourage you to apply and discover how TRiO SSS can help you achieve your academic and personal goals at State Fair Community College.
TRiO Student Support Services
Yeater Learning Center
Room 152
triosss@sfccmo.edu
(660) 596-7371
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Amy Sawtelle
TRiO Director
asawtelle@sfccmo.edu
(660) 596-7244
Whitney Hamilton
TRiO Academic Coordinator
whamilton2@sfccmo.edu
(660) 596-7333
Amanda Porter
TRiO Student Success Coach
aporter15@sfccmo.edu
(660) 596-7318
Maria Gadirca
TRiO Administrative Assistant
mgadirca@sfccmo.edu
(660) 596-7371