D’Angelo Sands, director of the Upward Bound program at Abilene Christian University, was sworn in on March 29 as president of the board for the Texas Association of TRIO Programs. Sands has worked with ACU’s Upward Bound program for 10 years.

TRIO Programs are federal outreach and student services programs designed to identify and provide services for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds.

“One of the main reasons I became involved with TRIO is the work that we do and who we serve,” Sands said. “I am a first-generation college student in my family, so I’m familiar with the challenges that come with it, and being in a position to advocate on behalf of our student programs is near and dear to my heart. I’m so grateful to the university for housing four of our programs. It really speaks to the mission of ACU.”

He is the third ACU employee to serve as president of Texas TRIO. The late Karen Wilkerson was president in 2009, and Randy Scott, an advisor for ACU’s TRIO Talent Search program, was president in 2014.

The Texas TRIO Association is the representative body for professionals from colleges, universities and agencies that host federally funded TRIO educational opportunity programs in Texas.

ACU participates in four TRIO programs:

• Talent Search provides counseling, as well as information about college admissions requirements, scholarships and various student financial aid programs to young people in grades six through 12.
• Upward Bound is an intensive intervention program preparing students for higher education through various enrichment courses and intensive mentoring and support for students as they prepare for college entrance exams, admission applications, financial aid and scholarship forms.
• McNair Scholars is designed to prepare eligible undergraduate students for doctoral studies through involvement in undergraduate research, conference presentation experience and other scholarly activities.
• Student Support Services programs provide participants with comprehensive educational and support services including academic tutoring, advising and financial literacy training, as well as assistance applying for financial aid programs and graduate school programs.

— Wendy Kilmer

Apr. 5, 2021