TRIO students in Detroit experience a summer of internships and opportunities

August 12, 2025 (Volume 48, Number 21)
Article by Adam Harris

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Students who participate in the TRIO Upward Bound Detroit (UB Detroit) kept busy this summer participating in experiential learning opportunities.

“In the TRIO UB Detroit program, we believe these internships and job shadowing experiences will help TRIO scholars grow and develop into the professionals they desire to be," said Adam Harris, UB Detroit director. "The vision moving forward is to create pathways for more opportunities.” 

National conference
Three scholars participated in the C.O.E. National Student Leadership Congress that took place in Washington, D.C. The Council for Opportunity in Education hosted this experience for 100 TRIO pre-college students from across the nation. 

One project students worked on was a Mock Congress presentation. Rising TRIO senior Tiara Hamilton said: “I learned how to effectively research, communicate ideas and think critically from a perspective I didn’t agree with. This experience helped me grow in my ability to collaborate and argue a position objectively.”

Internship
Kimoni McDaniel, also a rising TRIO senior, completed an internship with CODE313. The opportunity for McDaniel was fostered through an earlier TRIO UB visit to CODE313's downtown office, where students learned about STEM careers. The nonprofit organization provides youth aged 7-17 with essential skills that bridge the digital divide, fostering career readiness credentials and workforce development. 

Gary Beaver, CODE313 eXperience director, said: “Working with Kimoni has been equal parts inspiring and fun. His dedication and creativity made it feel as though he had been a part of the CODE313 family since its inception. His sharp mind kept our work grounded and, with his sense of humor, every challenge turned into a discovery.”

Legislative event
Harris and students Erica Brown and Mia Domineck were invited to participate in the virtual news conference that Michigan Rep. Joe Tate held in June to discuss the importance of TRIO programs. 

"I'm very grateful to our staff in Detroit and our community partners for offering these experiences to TRIO scholars," said B. Donta Truss, vice president for Enrollment Development and Educational Outreach. "Through these high-impact experiences, scholars are making a difference, learning about themselves and seeing a path forward to a career."

Nikki Gaines, associate vice president for Federal TRIO Programs, said TRIO "is about opening doors and expanding possibilities.” 

“These experiences help our scholars see what’s possible and realize they belong in every space they enter," Gaines said.

— Adam Harris is the director of TRIO Upward Bound Detroit

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