The College of St. Scholastica’s TRIO programs will host their fifth annual TRIO Day from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16, in the Mitchell Auditorium on campus. This event is not open to the public.

Three hundred high school students from across northern Minnesota are expected to attend the event. The day will begin with career exploration sessions led by area professionals representing, among other fields, law, athletic training, psychology, business and journalism. Each student will choose two sessions to attend.

"One of the main goals of TRIO is to give students exposure to various career fields in which they may be interested," said Greg Goman, Upward Bound academic advisor and TRIO Day coordinator. "That’s why we chose ‘careers’ as the theme for this year’s celebration."

Representatives from 20 colleges and universities will host booths from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. followed by an awards ceremony. All programs represented at TRIO Day will have the opportunity to nominate students for the third annual TRIO Leadership Award.

TRIO Day is in honor of TRIO programs nationally. TRIO includes seven outreach and support programs that assist low-income, first-generation college and disabled students to progress from middle school to post-baccalaureate programs. Since 1965 federally funded TRIO programs have helped two million students from disadvantaged backgrounds finish high school, enter postsecondary education and successfully graduate.

The College of St. Scholastica’s programs include Talent Search, Upward Bound, Upward Bound Math and Science, Student Support Services and the McNair Scholars Program. St. Scholastica is one of only two colleges and universities in Minnesota to host five TRIO programs.

For more information call Greg Goman at (218) 723-7071, toll-free at (800) 447-5444, ext. 7071 or e-mail ggoman@css.edu.