Karen Sue Smith My overall ELI experience was outstanding. I learned a great deal about the association and myself throughout the year long experience.

Sue Saia

My experience was wonderful. I met a lot of people who I never would have had the opportunity to work with without ELI. Lupe was awesome. Group project was stressful and I think a few did most of the work (I wasn't one of the heavy hitters for the project) :) Was hard to miss work as I directed two programs, but felt it was worthwhile. Felt that I grew as a leader, learned the infostructure of TRIO and it's organizations, and grew in my knowledge base of other programs (UB, VUB, SSS, ETS, McNair) Made some lifelong friends.

Associate Dean of Student Services
(Formerly TRIO Director during ELI training)
Cowley County Community College

Ivonne Sambolin

I enjoyed my ELI experience very much. It gave me the opportunity to network, build lasting relationships, and prepare me for the current roll of Chapter Secretary and future leadership roles.

Director
Educational Talent Search
Kennedy-King College/Dawson Technical Institute

Ketmani Kouanchao  Overall, it was a very good experience. The training and the meeting was good. The bad part was that I felt that our group could have been more cohesive. We did our assigned tasks, but I never felt that we really connected as a group. Another bad thing about it was that we've never did meet with the board because of scheduling problems, so we didn't connect with the board either.

Maureen Gleenen

What a great way to help others feel comfortable about giving time and energy outside of work to a great organization! I am sorry to leave TRIO for now, but after I complete my Ph.D., my desire is to have the opportunity to again have TRIO as part of my job description! Once it's in your blood...!!! I am very thankful for the opportunity to not only work on a group project, but to have had the opportunity to work on a personal project as well. I am a much better person for having been an ELI and I have to thank all of my fellow ELI's and our great trainer, Lupe Valtiera. We had the best combination of people from the region! Within our chapter, it is required that we give to the chapter after being an ELI. I was KS State Representive for 2000. That too was a great opportunity! I miss my Kansas TRIO family already!

Formerly SSS Director
Highland Community College, KS,
Currently, Coordinator of Services for the Center for Learning Assistance
New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM.