Prestigious Award
December 10, 2008
Bowling
Green, Ky. - The Southeastern Association of Educational Opportunity Program Personnel (SAEOPP) has
awarded the 2009 TRiO Achiever Award to James McCaslin, assistant director of Western Kentucky University’s Glasgow Campus.
The award will be presented Jan. 27 at the SAEOPP Awards Banquet in Memphis, Tenn.
TRiO is a nationwide, federally funded organization committed to providing educational opportunity for all Americans regardless of race, ethnic background or economic circumstance. TRiO programs include Educational Talent Search, Educational Opportunity Centers, Upward Bound, Veterans Upward Bound and Student Support Services.
While student financial aid programs help students overcome financial barriers to higher education, TRiO programs help students overcome class, social and cultural barriers to higher education.
“James is always willing to help us with carrying out our programs, and I am very proud that I was able to be a co-sponsor in nominating him for this award,” said Chris George, academic coordinator for Student Support Services. “It’s a great honor for him and great honor for WKU TRiO.”
The TRiO Achiever award is given to an individual who has successfully completed a postsecondary educational program of study and who is of high stature within his or her profession. The award focuses on those who have made significant civic, community or professional contributions and who can demonstrate that their participation in a TRiO project had a significant impact upon obtaining his or her educational and professional objectives.
McCaslin was selected to participate in the Educational Talent Search program in high school -- an experience that he says had a direct impact on shaping his postsecondary education career.
“As assistant director of the WKU-Glasgow Campus, I have found myself in a position to encourage TRiO programs within the university,” he said. “Glasgow now has regular visits from Student Support Services, an on-site counselor with Educational Opportunity Centers, and a collegial working relationship with Veterans Upward Bound.”
Glasgow Regional Center director Juanita Bayless commended McCaslin saying, “It has been a privilege to have James as an integral member of our staff for the past seven years. He is a true professional with a deep commitment to excellence in all he does. I look forward to watching his career path in the future.”
“This is a wonderful personal honor and achievement for James, and the recognition reflects on WKU-Glasgow, DELO and WKU as a whole as well,” said Dr. Don Swoboda, dean of the Division of Extended Learning & Outreach. WKU-Glasgow is a unit of the Division of Extended Learning & Outreach.
McCaslin was nominated for the award by the staff of WKU’s Educational Opportunity Centers and Student Support Services, both of which are TRiO programs at WKU. He is a graduate of WKU, earning both his baccalaureate and graduate degrees on the Hill.
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For information, contact Stacey Biggs at (270) 745-1926.
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