Washington, DC - Rep. Donald Norcross (NJ-01) announced a 5-year federal grant that will support Rutgers University-Camden students not just to get into college, but finish their post-secondary schooling with a college degree.

The U.S. Department of Education grant, known as the TRIO Student Support Services Program (SSS) will award an initial $220,000 to Rutgers-Camden students.

That funding, in turn, allows Rutgers University–Camden to serve 160 undergraduate students from low-income backgrounds, most of whom are the first in their families to attend college.

“Every student deserves a fair and equal shot at quality education. Programs like this put these students closer to their dream of becoming college graduates and productive members of the American workforce.” said Rep. Norcross.

“TRiO is the reason I graduated from college.  The support it offers students is one of a kind.  It is more than an educational support system; it is like a family whom you can rely on during those hardest moments,” said Camden City resident and psychology major Edily Santos.

Rutgers junior Hikeki Yamamoto, a finance major from Maple Shade told Rep. Norcross’ office: “TRiO is important to me because it gives me the support I need in order to improve myself. Their tutoring and mentoring sessions help me not only educationally but also personally.”

Rutgers-Camden responded to the grant news by sending this message to Rep. Norcross’ office.  “We are grateful to the U.S. Department of Education for its continued investment in our program, and to our Congressman, Donald Norcross, and our U.S. senators for their ongoing support of Rutgers–Camden,” said Phoebe A. Haddon, chancellor of Rutgers University–Camden. 

The grant also provides an opportunity for TRiO SSS students to compete for scholarship support to enroll in summer courses, participate in research presentations at conferences, and study abroad.

Click here for additional information about the TRiO Student Support Services program at Rutgers University–Camden.