By: Charles Smith
(JACKSON, Miss.) — Scholars in Jackson State University’s (JSU) TRIO programs won seven awards during the annual Southeastern Association of Educational Opportunity Program Personnel (SAEOPP) Regional Academic Competition, highlighting the strength of the university’s student support initiatives.
Mitchell M. Shears, Ph.D. is associate vice president for student success and executive director of Title III at Jackson State University. He praised the students’ achievements.
“Our TRIO programs continue to lead with excellence, empowering students from all backgrounds to achieve greatness through academic competition and collaboration,” Shears said. “These awards are not just wins for JSU TRIO Programs—they’re a reflection of what’s possible when opportunity meets preparation.”
The annual competition brings together top TRIO scholars from eight southeastern states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. Representing Mississippi were participants from JSU’s Student Support Services, Talent Search North Program, Navigators Upward Bound Math & Science Program and Achievers Upward Bound Math & Science Program. After winning at the state level, students advance to the regional competition.
Scholars in the Student Support Services program placed second in the Debate Competition with team members Zhane McCorvey, Moneek Pharms and Jayla Jones.
TRIO Support Services coordinator Tonjula Scott traveled with the students and served as their primary support team lead for the competition.
“We are incredibly proud of our TRIO debate team for earning second place in the competition, ” said Scott. “We watched them spend long hours preparing, sharpening their arguments and supporting one another. The results of this year’s competition underscore JSU’s commitment to student success and the impact of TRIO programs in developing future leaders.”
The Talent Search North program, represented by students from Powell Middle School in Jackson, Miss., won four awards during the SAEOPP Regional Academic Competition: first place in the Spelling Bee, second place in the Academic Bowl, second place in Super Quiz and third place in the Written Exam for Academic Bowl. Powell Middle School student Alanna Lastrapes received special recognition with a second-place finish in the Individual Spelling Bee.
The Navigators and Achievers Upward Bound Math & Science Programs collaborated with Rust College’s program to form a Mississippi “Super Team” that placed third in the STEM Bridge Building Competition among high school students.
Teresa Bolden, director of the Talent Search North Program at Jackson State University, emphasized the power of collaboration in the students’ success.
“As Helen Keller said, ‘Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.’ That’s exactly what those young people demonstrated during the state academic competition,” Bolden said. “They won as a team and that is truly inspirational- not only for themselves, but for the young people who will follow in their footsteps. They definitely made an impact.”
The federal TRIO programs are educational outreach initiatives that motivate and support students from underrepresented backgrounds, spanning middle school to graduate study.