Trio SSS legacy scholars program, puyallup

Pierce College received a $272,364 Project Grant award from the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Postsecondary Education on September 25, 2025, under the TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) Program (CFDA 84.042). The grant funds the LEGACY SCHOLARS program, which will operate through September 24, 2026, delivering comprehensive supportive services to disadvantaged college students in the Tacoma, Washington area.

The SSS Program provides on-campus tutoring, academic advising, career counseling, financial aid assistance, and workshops designed to enhance retention and graduation rates for low-income students, first-generation college students, and students with disabilities. Through this award, Pierce College will serve an estimated 100-300 students annually, with particular focus on fostering institutional support for limited-English-proficient students, historically underrepresented populations, and other disconnected student populations. The program supports student success in postsecondary education completion and facilitates transfer pathways from two-year to four-year institutions, while improving students' financial and economic literacy.