KENNETH ZIMMERMAN has been actively involved in TRiO programs for over seven years as
a student, tutor, and a mentor. He was introduced to the St. Olaf
Educational Talent Search Program initially at Humboldt Junior High
School in St. Paul, MN. He recalls being a bit of a "troublemaker",
often getting into fights, until one day during 7th grade when he
made the decision to start getting his homework done and get his act
together. Seventh grade was a big turning point for him. Kenneth remembers
an ETS Advisor meeting with him in a small group. Initially, Kenneth
wasn't very sure if he wanted to be in ETS, but it didn't take long
for him to get involved.
During junior high, Kenneth was an active participant in the after school tutoring program Hoops & Homework, he attended the MN TRiO Day leadership conference in Duluth, and participated in the ETS Mentoring Program where he corresponded with a St. Olaf College student on a weekly basis. It was during 7th grade that Kenneth was also introduced to MITY (MN Institute for Talented Youth) at Macalester College. ETS Advisors helped Kenneth apply for the program and he received the full scholarship. Kenneth said this program definitely helped his motivation to do well in school, because he had to have good grades to receive the scholarship. At MITY, Kenneth had the opportunity to live on a college campus, have a roommate and get an idea of what college life was like.
Kenneth continued his involvement in ETS in high school at Humboldt Senior High. Here he again participated in the Mentoring program, Hoops & Homework, and attended several college visits. During his junior and senior year he began to feel nervous about college. He knew he wanted to go, but still had to figure it out since he would be the first person in his family to attend college. "Everything I knew about college, I learned from you guys", he said. It was a big decision and a lot of work, but was always worth the effort. Due to the help he received from his TRiO ETS Academic Advisors, Kenny even remembers helping his friends with their application process, because he was always one step ahead.
In May 2006 Kenny graduated from St. Olaf College. For all four years he was actively involved in the Student Support Services program, worked for ETS as a student worker and tutor for "Hoops and Homework," and and served as a mentor to two Humboldt Senior High students. He also worked for two summers as a residential supervisor for the St. Olaf TRiO Upward Bound program, which he thoroughly enjoyed. Kenneth also received the TRiO scholarship to attend St. Olaf because of his active involvement in the programs. He believes that TRiO definitely helped him prepare for college. Kenneth is a great role model for others, and he is confident that he is now laying the foundation for future generations to follow their dreams of attending college as well. This fall, Kenneth will work as an Academic Advisor for the St. Olaf GEAR UP program, which helps prepare low-income, first generation students for college.
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During junior high, Kenneth was an active participant in the after school tutoring program Hoops & Homework, he attended the MN TRiO Day leadership conference in Duluth, and participated in the ETS Mentoring Program where he corresponded with a St. Olaf College student on a weekly basis. It was during 7th grade that Kenneth was also introduced to MITY (MN Institute for Talented Youth) at Macalester College. ETS Advisors helped Kenneth apply for the program and he received the full scholarship. Kenneth said this program definitely helped his motivation to do well in school, because he had to have good grades to receive the scholarship. At MITY, Kenneth had the opportunity to live on a college campus, have a roommate and get an idea of what college life was like.
Kenneth continued his involvement in ETS in high school at Humboldt Senior High. Here he again participated in the Mentoring program, Hoops & Homework, and attended several college visits. During his junior and senior year he began to feel nervous about college. He knew he wanted to go, but still had to figure it out since he would be the first person in his family to attend college. "Everything I knew about college, I learned from you guys", he said. It was a big decision and a lot of work, but was always worth the effort. Due to the help he received from his TRiO ETS Academic Advisors, Kenny even remembers helping his friends with their application process, because he was always one step ahead.
In May 2006 Kenny graduated from St. Olaf College. For all four years he was actively involved in the Student Support Services program, worked for ETS as a student worker and tutor for "Hoops and Homework," and and served as a mentor to two Humboldt Senior High students. He also worked for two summers as a residential supervisor for the St. Olaf TRiO Upward Bound program, which he thoroughly enjoyed. Kenneth also received the TRiO scholarship to attend St. Olaf because of his active involvement in the programs. He believes that TRiO definitely helped him prepare for college. Kenneth is a great role model for others, and he is confident that he is now laying the foundation for future generations to follow their dreams of attending college as well. This fall, Kenneth will work as an Academic Advisor for the St. Olaf GEAR UP program, which helps prepare low-income, first generation students for college.
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Kenneth Zimmerman
TRiO Educational Talent Search &
Student Support Services Programs
More TRiO Success Stories . . .
