Learning and Teaching from Adversity: Meet TRIO Star Kontessa Siliski

For Kontessa Siliski, getting to college was the hard thing. The college search and application processes were mysterious, and paying for college seemed impossible. “I’m first-generation, so no one in my family knew where to start,” she explains. But with the help of guidance counselors and friends’ parents, the girl from Granville, New York applied to and was accepted at Castleton University.

Kontessa found a warm welcome at Castleton’s Academic Support Center (ASC). Through the ASC’s TRIO Tuesdays and Financial Literacy workshops, she learned about college life and financial aid opportunities. Castleton quickly became a friendlier place – and paying for college seemed less daunting.

Armed with this new knowledge, the aspiring teacher threw herself into campus life. She participated in the Rotaract Club, Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, and mentoring programs at Castleton Elementary School. As a sophomore, she started a chapter of the Student Education Association; since then, she has served as its president. She also found a part-time job mentoring students with disabilities through the College Steps program.

Despite her busy schedule, Kontessa has also given back to the ASC. As a Summer Transition Program mentor, she has welcomed new TRIO students to Castleton and helped them acclimate to college life. She has also served as a financial literacy mentor, organizing the very sessions that proved so useful to her. This winter, as a TRIO Program Assistant, she oversaw a team of financial literacy mentors. Her marketing efforts attracted an unprecedented number of students to the workshops, doubling previous years’ numbers.

Academic Counselor Becky Eno praises Kontessa’s “quiet, calm leadership style” and great kindness. “The mentees in her Summer Transition family seemed to feel safe under her wing,” says Eno. “Kontessa has touched the lives of many people, including many of our TRIO students, by listening to their concerns, helping them improve their own lives and feel better about themselves, and inspiring them to get involved through her own shining example.”

Today, Kontessa is on the cusp of her senior year at Castleton. Despite her initial qualms about college, she regularly makes the President’s List. She balances academic excellence and her extracurricular involvement with three jobs: her position at College Steps, her TRIO Program Assistant role, and a job at an adult home in Granville. Since the COVID-19 pandemic forced Castleton to shift to online learning, Kontessa, an essential worker, has been working between twenty and thirty hours a week at the home, while completing her spring coursework.

Life may be hard at the moment, but Kontessa is used to learning from adversity. After graduation, the multidisciplinary studies major hopes to teach kindergarten through second grade. She believes her experiences will help her serve students. “I can relate to students who’ve had a hard life,” she says. “I lost my mom when I was fifteen, so I know what it’s like to have to grow up early.”

Kontessa hopes other first-generation students will experience all that college has to offer and take advantage of the resources available to them. “Ask for help if you need it,” she says. “I never liked to ask for help in the past, but there people at college who want to see you succeed. It’s okay to ask for help.”

 

 

All the Right Notes: TRIO Star Ethan Camperon-Vaupel

When Ethan Cameron-Vaupel first arrived at Castleton, he found college a little daunting. Like most first-years, he had to balance his studies and social life. But unlike many of his peers, Ethan had a learning disability. “I have to read a passage two to four times to figure out what it’s telling me,” he explains. “It takes a while for things to marinate.”

Fortunately, Ethan quickly developed connections at Castleton. Through Summer Transition, a weeklong program for new students, Ethan met other first-years and Academic Support Center (ASC) staff before the fall semester began. The ASC quickly became Ethan’s home base. He met with Math and Writing Clinic tutors when necessary, and Becky Eno, the academic counselor, helped him explore financial aid options. Ethan is grateful for the support he received at the ASC. “Everyone there knows me and wants me to succeed,” Ethan says. “It’s the one part of campus that is with you all the way.”

All that encouragement, coupled with Ethan’s own determination, worked. As Ethan’s confidence grew, he threw himself into campus life. The music minor sang bass with the Castleton Chamber Singers, the University Chorale, and Vocal Unrest, Castleton’s acapella group. To gain leadership skills, he joined the university’s chapter of the American Choral Directors Association and served as Vocal Unrest’s president for two years. He played tennis, even ascending to team captain his junior year. Despite his initial qualms, he also succeeded in the classroom: Ethan has made the Dean’s list a few times during his academic career.

Loving college life, Ethan wanted other students to enjoy the same opportunities he did. For that reason, he became a Summer Transition and TRIO Texting mentor. Again, Ethan sought additional challenges, serving as Lead Summer Transition Mentor his junior and senior year. As a mentor, Ethan strives to be personal and inclusive. “I try to become friends with someone before I mentor them,” he says. “I want everyone to feel important and cared for.”

ASC staff praise Ethan’s warmth and enthusiasm. “Ethan is exceptionally energetic and positive,” says Gerry Volpe, Coordinator of Disability Services. “He is able to drive excitement and investment in students.” Because of his excellent record, Ethan was hired as a TRIO Program Assistant in Fall 2019. In this role, he met with students and collaborated with Volpe to develop student programming.

Today, Ethan is student teaching at Poultney Elementary School. After graduation in May, he plans to teach elementary school, ideally second grade. Although he eventually hopes to settle in his native Vermont, he would like to work in Massachusetts or Colorado first. He believes his mentoring experience will make him a more empathic teacher. “It’s given me a greater appreciation for diversity, including neurodiversity,” he says. “It makes me a heck of a lot more patient in the classroom.”

Recalling his own challenges, Ethan hopes other college students will persist through theirs. “Push!” he advises. “Do not give up no matter what happens. Once you’re shaking hands with the president of the university and receiving your diploma, it will all be worth it.”

-Dorothy A. Dahm

 

Curiosity and Advocacy: Meet TRIO Star Waris Hassan

When Waris Hassan was growing up in Kenya, school was a faraway dream. Her parents could only afford to educate one child. While her older sister attended school and her mother sold tomatoes, ten-year-old Waris cared for her younger siblings. Sometimes, she walked a mile or two to get water for her family.

Waris was thirteen when her family immigrated to Winooski, Vermont. Acclimating to the American public school system was hard. “I didn’t speak any English whatsoever,” she recalls. “I didn’t know what year it was or how to spell my name. I was the only black person in the eighth grade.” After a year of intensive English classes, Waris slowly became more comfortable in school.

After graduating from high school, Waris took classes at the Community College of Vermont for a few semesters. In Spring 2017, she enrolled at Castleton. Again, she had to adjust to a new environment. “I’d never been away from home before,” she says. “I’m a shy person and an introvert, so I had to get out of my comfort zone to talk to people and make friends.”

Despite these misgivings, Waris threw herself into college life. When she needed help with statistics or writing, she visited the Academic Support Center. A social work major, she added a second major in sociology and a minor in women’s and gender studies. In her free time, she joined the Badminton Club. Remembering what it was like to learn a new language, she volunteered as a conversation partner with an international student.

As the semesters passed, Waris gained confidence in her academic abilities. During her junior year, she applied to Castleton’s McNair Scholars Program. This federally funded program prepares first-generation, low-income students, as well as those from under-represented backgrounds, for graduate study. McNair accepted her. Last summer, Waris completed independent research on cultural assimilation in immigrant college students through the McNair program. “I had a lot of fun doing independent research,” Waris says. “Before I joined McNair, I never thought I could do research, let alone do it by myself.”

Amanda Richardson, Director of Castleton’s McNair Scholars program, is impressed with Waris’ resilience and personal growth. “Other students can learn from Waris that focusing on a path and utilizing your available resources to the best of your ability can lead to achievement beyond what you may originally believe you are capable of in an unfamiliar environment,” says Richardson.

Through McNair, Waris has formed many strong friendships. “She is respected as a peer and brings her sharp, dry sense of humor to the group, which everyone enjoys,” adds Richardson.

Giving back to her peers comes naturally to Waris. This summer, Waris also served as a TRIO Texting Mentor. In this role, she helped incoming first-generation college students acclimate to life at Castleton. “In all my observations of Waris, I’ve been struck by her calm eagerness to understand other people’s experiences and cultures and her empathic listening skills that allow her to move towards that understanding,” says Becky Eno, Castleton’s Academic Counselor.

Today, it’s hard to remember that education wasn’t always a part of Waris’ future. The young woman who entered eighth grade without knowing any English is a double major with a strong GPA. She is enjoying her internship in the Victim Advocacy program at the Rutland State’s Attorney’s Office. After graduation, she looks forward to earning a master’s in social work. During graduate school, she would like to research cross-cultural differences in the long-term effects of child abuse. Eventually, she hopes to pursue a counseling career in the school or criminal justice system.

Waris hopes other first-generation students will take advantage of all college offers. “Get out of your comfort zone – do things you normally wouldn’t,” she urges. “Take classes that have nothing to do with your major. You’ll get to know yourself more.”

– Dorothy A. Dahm

Teaching and Trailblazing: Meet TRIO Star Sarah Dunbar

When Sarah Dunbar first enrolled at Castleton University, the campus seemed a long way from Craftsbury Common, her hometown in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom. She missed her family and friends, and as she didn’t have a car, she was dependent on other people for rides off campus. And although she’d participated in Upward Bound, a college-readiness program, in high school, the first-generation student occasionally doubted her ability to succeed in college.

At Castleton, Sarah found a home away from home in the Academic Support Center (ASC). Through the Summer Transition Program, Sarah met Director of Academic Services Kelley Beckwith and other academic counselors. They helped her select classes, manage her time, and navigate financial aid options. She sought tutoring from the ASC’s Math and Writing Clinics. She even found part-time employment as a Learning Center Assistant, scheduling appointments and assisting staff with administrative projects. And even when she didn’t have a particular reason to visit the ASC, it proved an ideal place to study. “It’s the right environment to focus,” she remarks.

Outside of the ASC, Sarah found success in the classroom, earning all As her first semester at Castleton. Slowly, she started branching out, joining various clubs on campus.

ASC staff noticed a change in her. “When Sarah first came to Castleton, she was on the shy side and a bit underconfident,” says Kelley Beckwith. “That quickly changed as her success in the classroom emerged. She then began challenging herself in other ways.”

Today, it’s hard to remember Sarah ever doubted her ability to thrive in college. The senior multidisciplinary studies major has a 3.83 GPA. During her time at Castleton, she’s visited St. John and Iceland through travel-study courses. In addition to serving as the Vice President of Academics in the Student Government Association, she is involved with the Student Education Association and the Rotaract Club. She has also served as a Community Advisor, mentoring students in the residence halls.

Sarah freely admits that juggling her various pursuits can be challenging. “I made sure the things I wanted to do really counted,” she says. “Yes, they look good on a résumé, but they served a purpose personally and professionally.”

Despite her many commitments, Sarah has found time to give back to TRIO and the ASC. In addition to working as a Learning Center Assistant, she has served as a Writing Clinic tutor and a TRIO Program Assistant. In these roles, she has mentored and sometimes counseled other first-generation students. “I like knowing I’m helping a student who is in the same position I was when I first started,” she says.

But don’t count on Sarah to start dispensing advice. She takes a far more laidback approach to mentoring. “When I’m the mentee, I want to feel free to make mistakes,” she explains. “Our conversations should be a two-way street. I have as much to learn from my students as they do from me.”

After graduation, Sarah hopes to teach elementary school in Vermont. Eventually, she intends to earn a master’s degree in education. “I’m fortunate to have found something I can see myself doing for the rest of my life,” she says. “Castleton made me fall in love with teaching.”

Sarah hopes other students will embrace adventure in their college journeys. “Be a trailblazer,” she urges. “Trying new things will be scary at first, but you’ll never know if you like them until you give them a go. And you’ll never know what you’re capable of until you try.”

-Dorothy A. Dahm

From Engines to Advocacy: Meet TRIO Star Brooke Greenway

When Brooke Greenway was in high school, college was the last thing on her mind. She explored the offerings at her district’s technical center, jumping from health care to criminal justice to global business management before graduating from the school’s diesel mechanics program.

But once she settled on a career in social work, she knew higher education was in her future. She also knew it would be an uphill battle. “The process of applying to college was an obstacle,” Brooke recalls. “My parents didn’t have any idea where to start.”

Brooke applied to and was accepted by Castleton University. But her struggles had just begun. After four years in trade school, the traditional classroom setting felt strange. “I had to get used to sitting at desks in rows and raising my hand in class,” she says.

And then there was the workload. “I had more projects, but less time to do them,” says Brooke. “I wasn’t used to managing deadlines.”

Through Castleton’s Summer Transition Program, Brooke made friends with other new students. Many, like her, were the first in their families to attend college. She also met Becky Eno and other counselors at the Academic Support Center (ASC). Through regular meetings with them, she learned to manage her time. She even found employment as a Learning Center Assistant, assisting staff and students at the ASC’s front desk.

Today, it’s hard to believe Brooke ever thought college wasn’t for her. The junior social work and sociology major has a 3.15 G.P.A. In addition to working at the ASC, she serves on the President’s Student Advisory Board and the Student Government Association’s Court. She credits the ASC with much of her success.

“The Academic Support Center offers the best resources I’ve ever had: both academic and emotional support,” she says. “They’re not like the counselors in high school where you were more of a number. Having that connection in a new environment is important.”

ASC staff have equally high praise for Brooke. “She mentors and supports her peers as a Learning Center Assistant,” says Becky Eno. “She is unfailingly patient, compassionate, and good-humored with students, often sharing her own challenges and never showing the slightest trace of condescension. She is going to be a wonderful social worker.”

After graduation, Brooke hopes to be a medical social worker or work with people with disabilities. “I think the majority of people with disabilities don’t know what their rights are, so I’d like to advocate for them,” she says. Eventually, she plans to earn a master’s in social work.

Brooke hopes her story will inspire other students to persist and achieve their goals. She encourages new students to develop relationships with their professors and use the resources available to them, including the ASC. “Don’t be afraid of failing,” she muses. “Without failure, you don’t really learn. It’s what you do after the failure that matters.”

-Dorothy A. Dahm

Caring and Curiosity: Meet TRIO Star Liam Edwards

When Liam Edwards first registered for classes at the Community College of Vermont, he encountered a lot of skepticism. At seventeen, he had dropped out of high school to attend college. “I got negative feedback from friends,” he says. “They didn’t think I could make it. My family didn’t believe I could make it either.”

Liam’s first day at CCV seemed to confirm everyone’s fears. “I didn’t even show up to the right class,” he recalls, chuckling. “I sat in the wrong classroom for three hours.”

There was also the financial burden. Liam’s parents couldn’t pay for his education so he worked at Rutland Mental Health, doing outreach work with adults with chronic mental health problems. He became a substitute teacher at Head Start. In the summer, he toiled long hours as a farmhand. In between, he worked in production at music festivals.

Despite the bumpy beginning and the heavy workload, Liam thrived. He left classes wanting to engage with classmates about the ideas they were learning and discussing. He earned an associate’s degree in early childhood education from CCV before transferring to Castleton, a transition he describes as “seamless.”

Today, the young man who was told he wouldn’t succeed in college has a 3.26 GPA despite a plethora of outside commitments. Until Liam began student teaching this semester, he continued his work with Rutland Mental Health and Head Start in addition to working part-time at the Calvin Coolidge Library’s circulation desk. He has also been an active member of the university’s Greenhouse and Gardens Club. In January, he discussed his experiences as a transfer student on a panel for new transfer students. 

Faculty and staff praise his appetite for learning and his determination. “Liam is truly committed to learning. He eagerly searches for new knowledge and he passionately engages with scholarly work,” says Leigh-Ann Brown, Assistant Professor of Education. Stephanie Traverse, Access Services Librarian, raves about his “incredible work ethic.”

Liam believes Castleton’s Academic Support Center is partially responsible for his success.  He has met with Math Specialist Deborah Jackson and Writing Specialist Doe Dahm during his time at Castleton. “It’s reassuring to believe that there are people at Castleton who will help,” he says. “And it’s been useful to get help with my writing, especially synthesizing and sequencing. The Academic Support Center has helped me achieve one of my goals, which is to keep my GPA above a 3.00.”

A multidisciplinary studies major, Liam hopes to pursue a career in elementary education after graduating in December. He also plans to attend graduate school. This semester, he is student teaching. He eagerly creates lesson plans for the 4-6th graders in his classroom, and despite his busy schedule, finds time to mentor fellow student teachers, sharing ideas and strategies with them.

Monica McEnerney, chair of Castleton’s education department, is supervising Liam in his student teaching role. She is impressed by his interactions with students and peers.

“It was evident from the first day that Liam had built strong connections with students and was a responsible and kind colleague,” she says. “He knows that, even when times get tough, he must be a positive presence for his students.  Liam is an excellent elementary educator.”

McEnerney believes Liam’s intellectual curiosity will enrich his work as an educator. “Liam has a broad sense of the world, has a poetic disposition, and cares deeply about his community,” she says.

Ann Slonaker, Associate Professor of Education, agrees wholeheartedly. “Liam will be a good role model for all his students,” she adds.

In the meantime, Liam hopes other students will take full advantage of the opportunities to learn and grow during their time at college. “You can’t just read what’s given to you,” he says thoughtfully. “Your professors are all hard workers, and they haven’t stopped learning. Read outside your interests.”

– Dorothy A. Dahm

Balance and Compassion: Meet TRIO Star Sabrina Lacasse

When Sabrina Lacasse first arrived at Castleton, she didn’t know what to expect. She knew she wanted to be a nurse, but the first-generation college student was nervous about forms, deadlines, and other facts of college life. In addition, Sabrina was apprehensive about leaving home. She’d grown up on a small farm in tiny Elmore, Vermont, and she wasn’t sure how she’d handle being away from family.

Fortunately, another family awaited Sabrina at Castleton. Through Summer Transition Program (STP), a weeklong pre-college experience for new TRIO students, she made valuable connections. “STP helped me tremendously,” Sabrina recalls. “I learned where everything was before classes started, and I made friends.” STP also introduced Sabrina to the Academic Support Center’s full-time staff.

But settling in was just the beginning of Sabrina’s journey. Despite the warm STP welcome, Sabrina was often homesick. And although she worked hard, the nursing program proved daunting. Finally, like most college students, Sabrina wanted to earn good grades, have a social life, and get sufficient sleep. Balance seemed elusive.

Whenever obstacles arose, Sabrina met with Academic Support Center staff, a practice she continues today. “They say, ‘Take a deep breath; this is what you have to do,’” she chuckles. “And I feel better.”

Today, it’s hard to reconcile the relaxed, self-assured young woman with the shy girl who entered STP. Sabrina maintains a 3.30 GPA while juggling part-time jobs at the Campus Center and Academic Support Center. She plays club basketball and is an active member of the Rotaract Club.

Despite Sabrina’s success, she hasn’t forgotten her rocky start. As an STP and TRIO Texting Mentor, she nurtures and encourages new students, many of them first-generation students who are anxious about entering a new world. “She inspires new students with her positive attitude and by sharing her personal experiences,” says Kelley Beckwith, Director of Academic Services.

Sabrina loves seeing her mentees grow; some have even become leaders themselves. “Sometimes, they come up to me and say, ‘If it wasn’t for STP, I wouldn’t be here,’” she says. “Some still call me Mom.”

At Castleton, Sabrina’s compassion has taken her far, even out of the country. Last year, Sabrina and her fellow nursing students traveled to Honduras to provide care for people in underserved communities. It was Sabrina’s first trip outside the U.S. – and her first time flying. “I was way out of my comfort zone, but it was the best experience,” she says. “It reminded me of why I want to be a nurse.” This spring, Sabrina will travel to Florida to volunteer with the Rotaract Club.

Sabrina’s adventures have whetted her appetite for travel. After graduation, she plans to pursue a career as a traveling nurse. Eventually, she hopes to settle in her beloved Vermont, where she would like to work as an emergency room or birthing center nurse. Her Castleton family is confident she’ll succeed. “Her manner as a mentor indicates she’ll make a wonderful nurse,” says Becky Eno, Academic Counselor.

Sabrina hopes new students will find a home at Castleton and take advantage of all the university has to offer. “Ask for help if you need it,” she advises. “As a first-year , I was too shy to ask for what I needed – now I do it all the time. And get involved on campus. It can lead to all sorts of opportunities.”

-Dorothy A. Dahm

From Stardom to Service: Meet TRIO Star Weslee Thompson

Growing up on the island of Guam, Weslee Thompson did not imagine attending college in Vermont. A talented athlete, he seemed destined for soccer stardom. When he was seventeen, an injury derailed his dreams. He still recalls the hurt he felt when his physical therapist told him he would never again play competitive soccer.

But one dream’s demise led to another. “Having a negative experience with a physical therapist made me want to pursue physical therapy,” Weslee says. “I knew what it was like to be in a vulnerable position. I wanted to come alongside people and work with them.” At the time, Weslee hoped to rehabilitate injured athletes.

Weslee’s new goals led him to Castleton University, where he pursued a double major in health science and psychology. Although the health science degree would give him the prerequisites for graduate school, he knew understanding human behavior would allow him to better support patients.

Like all first-year students, Weslee had to adapt to a new academic environment. Unlike most of his classmates, he had to pay his own way through college. He accepted a full-time position at McDonalds and quickly became a shift manager.

Juggling a full-time job and courses for two majors proved challenging even for a student as dedicated as Weslee. He invested in a planner. “I discovered a passion for color coordinating,” he chuckles. Always a competent writer, he met with Writing Clinic tutors and the Writing Specialist to make his papers even stronger.

Weslee’s formula worked. Now in his junior year, he still works full-time while maintaining a 4.00 GPA as a double major. Outside of class, he embraces other intellectual opportunities. This summer, he worked with psychology professor Greg Engel, conducting genetic research on ethanol tolerance in fruit flies.

And despite Weslee’s hectic schedule, he still finds time to help others. He is a writing tutor at Castleton’s Academic Support Center; he has also tutored students in anatomy and psychology. For the past two years, he has served a Student Orientation Staffer (SOS), helping new students acclimate to life at Castleton. Being a mentor has proven rewarding. “I’m most proud when people come up to me between classes and say I’ve helped them,” he says. “I’m more proud of that than anything I’ve accomplished myself.”

The desire to help others led Weslee to Castleton. Since then, his journey has taken another turn. This summer, an internship at Rutland’s Back on Track Physical Therapy affirmed his interest in the field. Through his internship, he discovered a passion for helping injured veterans. “I’d like to help those who’ve served get back to their lives,” he says quietly.

During his time at Castleton, Weslee has made an excellent impression on faculty and staff. “I feel immensely lucky to have known Wes as a student and an employee,” says Doe Dahm, Writing Specialist and adjunct professor of English. “It’s rare to find a student with his level of personal and intellectual maturity. When I first met him and he said he wanted to be a physical therapist, I thought, ‘Yes. I could envision him working with my elderly family members.’ He’s ready to enter the professional world.”

 In the meantime, Weslee is making the most of his time at Castleton. He hopes that new students will also enjoy their undergraduate years. “Time management is crucial, but it is possible to breathe,” he says. “Make sure you give yourself time to pursue your own passions.”

 

Caring and Caregiving: Meet TRIO Star Chandra Luitel

Castleton University is a long way from the Nepalese refugee camp where Chandra Luitel was born and raised. At ten, Chandra was cooking for her family and taking care of her younger siblings. College and career seemed remote. “I had a passion to become a nurse,” she says. “But I knew my dream of going into a professional field was impossible because of my family’s financial situation.”

When Chandra was thirteen, her parents decided to move to the United States. They were taking a chance: they knew very little about the country and could not speak English. However, with robbery, violence, and poverty in the camp, the move seemed worth the risk.

But the family’s struggles did not end when they arrived in Winooski, Vermont. The Luitels knew no one in their new city. Chandra and her younger sister had learned a little English at school in Nepal, so they did their best to help their parents navigate this new world. “We were scared for a few months,” recalls Chandra. “But then we met other people from Nepal who encouraged us to stay – not that we could go back.”

At school, more culture shock awaited Chandra and her siblings. There was the pressure to buy clothes and fit in with peers. “In Nepal, we had only one uniform,” says Chandra. School lunches were also an adjustment as Chandra was accustomed to cooking food at home. And although Chandra had lots of questions about her new language, environment, and schoolwork, she did not ask many. “I was hesitant to ask for help,” she says.

In her junior year of high school, Chandra was introduced to the University of Vermont’s Upward Bound program, a federally funded program for high school students of modest means whose parents do not have a bachelor’s degree. Through workshops and college tours, Chandra learned that she could realize her dream of attending college and becoming a nurse. She applied and was accepted to Castleton’s nursing program.

In August 2015, Chandra came to campus a week before the start of her first semester. With about thirty other new students, she participated in the Summer Transition Program, a week-long program to help TRIO students acclimate to college life (STP).

Like many other first-year students, Chandra struggled with homesickness. “In my culture, we don’t move from home until we get married,” she says. “It was pretty challenging for my parents as well.”

Through STP, Chandra found ample support. She made friends with other homesick students. “We talked about it and realized it’s pretty normal,” she remembers. Academic Support Center staff were also reassuring, particularly Kelley Beckwith, Director of Academic Services. “Kelley was good to me,” says Chandra. “She shared how she felt when she left home for college and later realized it was all for the best.”

STP helped Chandra find her way around campus – and help her peers. “I was able to help other new students from Nepal find the Academic Support Center and other places on campus,” she says. She now encourages high school friends to apply to Castleton and participate in STP.

As Chandra threw herself into challenging coursework, she continued visiting Academic Support Center. Academic Counselor Becky Eno helped her register for classes and gave her pep talks when she doubted her ability to succeed at Castleton. Faced with writing assignments, she took her papers to the Writing Clinic. “Every semester, I think, oh, I’m going to fail these nursing courses,” she says. “But then I come to the Writing Clinic for help with writing and research.”

Today, it’s hard to believe Chandra ever wondered whether she could make it at Castleton. This semester, her mid-term GPA was a 4.00. Recently, she was awarded the Vermont Educational Opportunity Programs scholarship for overcoming significant obstacles to pursue her education. “Chandra has matured, become disciplined, and begun to see the world as a nurse, one who is responsible for the well-being of others,” says her advisor, Assistant Professor of Nursing Margaret Young. After graduation, Chandra plans a career in pediatric or geriatric nursing.

But despite Chandra’s accomplishments, some things haven’t changed. She still puts her family first, returning home almost every weekend to help her mother. “I read the mail my mom cannot read and pay the bills,” she says. Since her mother is often tired from working double shifts, Chandra gives her a break by cooking for the family and taking her teenage brother to sporting events.

Chandra hopes other students will learn from her story, particularly those who are reluctant to attend college because they fear homesickness or debt.   “Push yourself,” she says. “We all have doubts, but life will be better. Ask for help. And don’t be afraid of the financial stuff – there is aid available, including lots of scholarships at Castleton.”

-Dorothy A. Dahm

Opportunity Knocks: TRIO Star Christin Martin

Christin at Kilkenny Castle in Ireland this summer.

Like many first-year students, Christin Martin was homesick when she arrived at Castleton. She missed Plainfield, the small Vermont town where she grew up, and her large, close-knit family. “There were a lot of calls home,” she recalls with a chuckle. “I talked to my mom at least once a day.”

Adjusting to college would be hard, Christin knew. But affording college would be even harder. The first-generation college student would have to pay for her education herself.

Despite her worries, Christin threw herself into life at Castleton. Through the Summer Transition Program, she made friends and connected with the staff at the Academic Support Center. To pay her tuition, she worked various part-time jobs. She joined clubs. She studied hard – and made the President’s List a few times.

Today, it’s hard for Christin and her mentors to recognize the homesick girl who arrived at Castleton almost four years ago. “During her first year, Christin struck me as a quiet student on the verge of becoming wonderful, and she has continually grown in confidence, depth of insight, and professionalism,” says Becky Eno, Castleton’s Academic Counselor.

A double major in Social Work and Sociology, Christin has a 3.94 GPA. She sits on the Honors Council, the Themed Housing Advisory Board, and the Social Work Advisory Board. Christin also juggles her academic achievements and extracurricular involvement with three jobs on campus, including a program assistant position at Academic Support – a role created just for her.

Despite Christin’s demanding schedule, she finds time to give back to TRIO. As an Upward Bound and Summer Transition Program mentor, she helps other first-generation students acclimate to college life. Last summer, she coordinated a TRIO Texting mentor program for incoming students as an AmeriCorps Vista volunteer at Academic Support. Christin enjoys connecting with new students. “If students text me at four on a Sunday and they know I’ll reply, it means I’ve established a rapport with them,” she says.

Castleton’s staff anticipate great things for Christin. “She’s been a role model for many students as an undergraduate and will undoubtedly make Castleton proud as an alum,” says Kelley Beckwith, Director of Academic Services.

After graduation, Christin plans to work in residence life while attending graduate school. Eventually, she hopes to become a school or college counselor. “I met with a VSAC counselor while I was in high school,” she says. “It did a lot for me, and I’d like to help students who are facing what I faced.”

Christin hopes other students will have the same chances she’s had. “Pay attention to what’s going on,” she urges. “Be aware of your financial situation, grades, and opportunities on campus. They’ll help you build a résumé and lead to other opportunities.”

-Dorothy A. Dahm