EC Wisconsin News

Lakeshore College has been awarded a $1.36 million federal TRIO Student Support Services grant by the U.S. Department of Education. The funding will be distributed over five years, with Lakeshore receiving $272,364 annually to help improve college retention and graduation rates for low-income students, first-generation students, and students with disabilities.

The grant continues 15 years of TRIO services at Lakeshore’s campus. Since 2010, the program has supported more than 1,000 students in remaining enrolled in college and completing their degrees.

“This grant allows Lakeshore College to continue to provide critical targeted, holistic support for low-income and first-generation students as well as students with disabilities,” said Dr. Paul Carlsen, president of Lakeshore College. “The staff members and efforts supported by this funding can be the difference to help our students stay on track, reach their goals and change their lives.”

TRIO Student Support Services at Lakeshore offer individualized assistance such as academic tutoring, financial aid guidance, career exploration resources, and mentoring. These supports are designed to increase the likelihood that participants will finish their degrees or transfer successfully to four-year universities while minimizing debt.

Lakeshore College serves more than 9,000 students each year across its Cleveland campus and additional sites in downtown Manitowoc and Sheboygan. The college is recognized nationally for its educational outcomes; it was ranked #2 in the nation by Washington Monthly and named a top-150 two-year college by the Aspen Institute. In 2021, it was honored as Large Business/Industry of the Year by the Chamber of Manitowoc County. Approximately 800 students graduate from Lakeshore annually, with associate degree graduates reporting a median salary of $61,355 within six months after graduation.

For more information about TRIO Student Support Services at Lakeshore College, visit lakeshore.edu.