GCCC to Host National TRIO Day Mix & Mingle Celebration
[Garden City, KS] February 12, 2026 -- Garden City Community College (GCCC) will join colleges and universities nationwide in celebrating the 40th annual National TRIO Day on Saturday, February 28, 2026. The observance recognizes the life-changing impact of the Federal TRIO Programs and honors the achievements of first-generation, income-eligible students, students with disabilities, and veterans pursuing higher education.
In recognition of National TRIO Day, GCCC’s TRIO Student Support Services will host a Mix & Mingle celebration from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, in the Saffell Library. The event will feature hors d’oeuvres, alumni spotlights, networking opportunities, trivia, games, and prizes. Students, alumni, campus leaders, and community partners are invited to attend and celebrate TRIO success stories while learning more about the program’s mission and impact.
“TRIO students are scholars, problem-solvers, community builders, and future leaders,” said Dana Nanninga, Director of Student Support Services at GCCC. “National TRIO Day allows us to celebrate their accomplishments, recognize their perseverance, and reaffirm our commitment to ensuring every student has the support and resources needed to achieve their academic and career goals.”
Established by Congress in 1986, National TRIO Day encourages communities across the country to focus on educational access, academic persistence, and the power of postsecondary opportunity to strengthen individuals and the nation. The TRIO Programs were originally created through the Higher Education Act to help remove systemic barriers to higher education.
“For forty years, National TRIO Day has served as a powerful reminder that talent is universal, but opportunity is not,” said Kimberly Jones, President of the Council for Opportunity in Education (COE). “This milestone year honors the millions of students and alumni who have turned their dreams into degrees, careers, and lifelong contributions to their communities. As we celebrate this anniversary, we recommit ourselves to protecting and strengthening TRIO so future generations can continue to thrive.”
GCCC serves 200 TRIO students annually, providing academic advising, tutoring, mentoring, college readiness services, financial aid assistance, and career development support. Nationally, TRIO serves more than 800,000 individuals each year, including middle school and high school students, college students, adult learners, veterans, and graduate scholars.
This year marks the 40th annual National TRIO Day, celebrating a legacy of programs that have helped more than six million students nationwide earn college degrees and pursue meaningful careers.
For more information about GCCC TRIO, please contact sss@gcccks.edu.
--
Garden City Community College exists to produce positive contributors to the economic and social well-being of society.