When Alexandro Gonzalez first enrolled at 鶹Ƶ, college felt like unfamiliar territory. As a first-generation student, the path ahead seemed daunting — until he connected with .
“For me as a first-gen student, it really came down to being confused, feeling lost, overwhelmed and scared,” Gonzalez said. “No one in my family has gone to college — not my father, my mother or my brothers.”
The 20-year-old Othello native graduated from Moses Lake High School and participated in Big Bend Community College’s TRIO Upward Bound program during high school. That experience shaped his expectations for college.
“I’ve been in TRIO since I was in high school,” he said. “When I relocated to Yakima and reached out to YVC, one of the first things I was looking at was if they offer TRIO, because I know that it works and it helped out a lot.”
Joining TRIO at YVC gave Gonzalez the sense of security he needed.
“When I heard TRIO was a support system for first-gen students, it really made me feel [a sense of] security,” he said. “Once I joined TRIO, I met other students. It made me feel good knowing that they were just like me. It was a community and it felt good.”
He credits YVC staff members Cristy Rasmussen, STEM director, and Marivy Vasquez, TRIO director, for guiding him through the challenges of his first quarter and beyond.
When Gonzalez first registered for classes, before he was connected with YVC’s TRIO staff, he accidentally registered for the wrong class.
Now, after working with Vasquez to figure out the best pathway to achieve his educational goals, Gonzalez has a game plan.
“She showed me that she really cared about my future,” said Gonzalez. “I could tell that she wanted to know about me personally — my attitude and goals. It helped motivate me and feel confident for the next quarter.”
Gonzalez is now pursuing a Direct Transfer Agreement in business and plans to transition into pre-law studies. He expects to graduate from YVC in 2027.
ABOVE: Alexandro Gonzalez studies in the Tutoring Center on YVC's Yakima campus. TOP: Upward Bound students listen to a lecture from Chemistry Instructor Suki Smaglik during YVC's 2025 summer experience.
Overcoming Hardship
Gonzalez’s journey hasn’t been easy. During his senior year of high school, his family’s home burned down, leaving them homeless while he was enrolled in Running Start at Big Bend.
“I was going through it at the same time I was going to college,” he said. “The only person that I felt comfortable talking to was my TRIO advisor at the time. She listened to me, gave me a hug and told me everything was going to be all right. She really went out of her way to give me a hand.”
Through TRIO, Gonzalez found housing and financial support that allowed him to stay in school.
“My advisor and her coworker got me a place in Moses Lake, and they helped me out financially with the first couple of months,” he said. “They even helped me find a job. It was really nice. I don’t think that was part of their job. It was more like from their hearts.”
Looking Ahead
Gonzalez says TRIO has given him confidence and a vision for his future.
“For me, TRIO made me realize that it doesn’t matter what kind of position I am in today — that doesn’t make things impossible for me,” he said. “I’m more than capable of becoming what I want to become.”
For students like Gonzalez TRIO isn’t just a program — it’s a lifeline. Funded by two U.S. Department of Education grants totaling more than $900,000 for the 2025-26 academic year, YVC’s TRIO programs help first-generation and low-income students overcome barriers and thrive in higher education.
Two Programs, One Mission: Student Success
YVC’s two TRIO programs are tailored to meet students where they are. Upward Bound serves approximately 110 high school students from Granger, Sunnyside, Toppenish and Wapato school districts. Through tutoring, academic advising, college tours and even a six-week Summer Residential Program, students gain the skills and confidence to pursue higher education.
Student Support Services, meanwhile supports YVC students, offering academic advising, mentoring, financial literacy workshops and university visits for those exploring transfer into a four-year school.
“Programs like Upward Bound equip students to aspire for academic excellence and be competitive applicants when it comes to applying for post-secondary education,” said Upward Bound Director Isaias Guerrero, who noted that as of the 2024-25 academic year YVC’s program was the third largest in Washington state.
Students work on a science experiment during the Upward Bound summer experience in July 2025.
Nearly 70% of YVC’s Upward Bound students enroll in college after high school, compared to an overall college-going rate of 50% in the districts served. Moreover, 63% of participants complete a college degree within six years — almost double the regional average.
Meanwhile, TRIO SSS is making an equally powerful impact on campus. The program primarily serves first-generation, low-income and students with disabilities — populations often underrepresented in higher education.
“TRIO Student Support Services helps level the playing field for students who face additional barriers in higher education,” said Marivy Vasquez, TRIO SSS director. “Through academic advising, mentoring and financial literacy support, we help students stay on track to graduate.”
Vasquez noted that TRIO students consistently achieve higher retention and graduation rates than non-participants — 90% compared to 75% — demonstrating the program’s measurable impact.
Changing Outcomes, Changing Lives
For Alejandra Preciado, that support made all the difference.
A first-generation college student and mother of a 2-year-old, Preciado knows what it means to juggle responsibilities. She worked full time as a nursing assistant while taking classes on her days off. But despite her determination, she often felt isolated.
“I didn’t have many interactions with my instructors or any of the students,” Preciado said. “I felt really out of place.”
That changed when she discovered 鶹Ƶ’s College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP).
“CAMP came to me when I needed it the most,” she said. “It wasn’t just helpful for the financials — it was about having that support system. I felt warmth. I felt more like a student rather than just somebody working toward a goal.”
Through CAMP, Preciado found community and confidence. She connected with other students, built friendships and learned about TRIO, which continued supporting her after her first year at YVC.
“They help you with tutoring, scholarships, campus tours and mentors,” she said. “Before joining CAMP, I didn’t talk to anybody. That interaction with other students changed me. It changed the type of friends I wanted to have and the mindset I wanted to keep.”
TRIO students Alejandra Preciado, left, and Mauricio R. Gonzalez, right, study in YVC's Speech and Language Lab in Palmer Martin Hall on the Yakima Campus.
Preciado credits CAMP and TRIO with helping her navigate college life — from registering for classes to planning her future. A campus visit to Washington State University sealed her next step.
“After I saw the campus life, that’s when I knew — I want to apply to the WSU nursing program for sure,” she said.
Set to graduate with her associate degree this spring, Preciado plans to pursue a bachelor’s in nursing and eventually become a mentor for other first-generation students.
“If it wasn’t for CAMP and TRIO, I wouldn’t be as confident as I am now,” she said. “They showed me that even at my age, you can have friends, you can belong and you can dream bigger.”
Why It Matters
“This investment supports YVC’s commitment to equity and student success across the Yakima Valley, ensuring more students from our region are prepared to transfer and thrive at four-year universities,” Vasquez said.
When Mauricio R. Gonzalez moved from Mexico to Yakima Valley during his senior year of high school, his focus was simple: learn English. College wasn’t even on his radar.
“I didn’t even know if I was going to be able to go to college here in the U.S.,” Gonzalez said. “My last year of high school I was just focusing on learning the language. Then I was talking to an advisor about what’s next and she suggested I go to college. I didn’t even know how to do it.”
That conversation led him to an event on 鶹Ƶ’s Yakima Campus, where he met Marivy Vasquez.
“She started talking to me and guiding me, sharing what things I might qualify for and how to apply for them,” Gonzalez said. “My first year, I think I completed my financial aid forms in June or July and barely got awarded because I didn’t know about it.”
Through CAMP and TRIO, Gonzalez found the support he needed to navigate college life.
“Once I joined CAMP with all the guidance, tutors and all the people that participate in the program, I started feeling comfortable, making friends and joining clubs,” he said. “I’m pretty sure if I hadn’t had help in that moment, I would still be lost.”
Interim Vice President of Student Services Pedro Navarette, left, and TRIO Director Marivy Vasquez address CAMP and TRIO students during an end of the event held in spring 2025.
Now in his second year, Gonzalez has also transitioned to TRIO and is flourishing. He’s active in MESA, Computer Science and STEM clubs, works in the Speech and Language Center and plans to join Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society.
“I was really quiet,” Gonzalez said. “I struggled a lot with English 101 — there’s a lot of reading and writing. When I started feeling more comfortable, I realized I’m not alone. I can ask for help and there are people willing to help you. That was a really big change.”
A recent visit to Washington State University planned by the TRIO program gave Gonzalez a glimpse of his future. “I was really excited when I got to visit WSU,” he said. “It made me realize there’s more to think about, but it also motivated me.”
Gonzalez plans to transfer to WSU or Central Washington University next year to pursue a degree in . His advice to other students? “Don’t be afraid to ask,” he said. “If you know the problem exists, you don’t lose anything by asking for help.”
For him and other TRIO students, the program is helping to rewrite their futures, gain confidence and turn dreams into degrees.
“More than anything I want other students to know that they’re not alone and that college is hard,” Gonzalez said. “Having that support from people that fully understand you is a really great advantage.”
Story by Stefanie Menard, AA-DTA ’05, communications consultant. Photos by Menard and Dustin Wunderlich, director of community relations.