TRIO Day 2017 challenges students to be change agents

[lead]For more than 50 years, TRIO Programs have been working to help students overcome class, social, and cultural barriers to higher education.[/lead]

Each year, to demonstrate appreciation for the greater community and its support of TRIO, the program hosts TRIO Day, a national day of service during which students who participate in TRIO Programs are engaged in community service projects. The theme for TRIO Day 2017 is “Being a Change Agent in your own Community.” Students will be challenged to dream big and empower the people in their own backyards, by giving back.

This year, NC State TRIO Programs is excited to welcome educator and North Carolina native Michael Bonner as the featured speaker for TRIO Day on March 18.

Bonner  exemplifies “think and do”. In his Greenville, North Carolina classroom, Bonner has found innovative ways to meet his students where they are – by having students write lyrics and film music videos about the lessons in class. He has literally led his class to rap and dance their way to reading and math comprehension.

[major-link url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iN6gKAfEwZ8″ target=”_blank”]Watch Michael Bonner’s life changing experience on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show”.[/major-link]

Since bringing music into the classroom, Bonner’s students have become engaged, enthusiastic about learning, and have improved their test scores beyond recognition. Their music videos have also gone viral, prompting an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show that has cast Bonner into the public eye.

Bonner’s energy and dedication to helping close the education gap for children in underserved communities are an inspiration. On TRIO Day, he will speak about how he is pairing his passion for education with music and creativity to help shape the next generation of leaders. Students will then have the chance to apply Bonner’s philosophy to real world problems as they plan service projects to address topics such as college access, bullying, hunger, and sustainability.