WARRENSBURG, MO (Nov. 20, 2001) -- Guadalupe (known as Lupe) Garcia, a Central Missouri State University student from Appleton City who has benefited from the university's TRIO-Student Support Services program, has been named recipient of the 2001 MRADE Developmental Student Award.

The award presentation was made during a TRIO-SSS meeting Oct. 31 on campus, hosted by the Department of Academic Enrichment. MRADE President Michele Bach, a mathematics teacher at Kansas City, Kansas Community College, made the presentation of a plaque and check for $100, noting that Garcia now has the opportunity to compete on a national level. A $500 gift will be awarded in March 2002 to an individual selected to receive a similar award presented by the National Association for Developmental Education (NADE).

Born in Michoacan, Mexico, Garcia is the daughter of Leslie and Maria Smith of Appleton City. She moved to Appleton City as an eighth grader and went on to graduate from high school there in 1997. She is currently a sophomore at Central majoring in medical technology and has been a phlebotomist for almost four years.

To be considered for the award, a student must have completed at least two developmental courses or participated in at least two of the following developmental program activities: TRIO Upward Bound, TRIO Student Support Services, High School-to-College Bridge Program, special admissions program, or enrollment in developmental classes such as math, writing, study skills and reading. A recipient also must possess at least a 3.0 cumulative grade point average and plan to continue enrollment in post-secondary education during the next academic year.

In addition to meeting the requirements, Garcia submitted a 500-word autobiography about the role developmental education has played in helping her to prepare for regular university courses.

When she was growing up in Mexico, Garcia thought that attending college might be beyond her grasp, especially since she would be the first one in her family to undertake such a task. Soon after arriving at Central, however, Garcia learned that she qualified to become a part of the TRIO-SSS program, so she enrolled in developmental courses such as Introduction to College Writing and College Success Strategies (CSS). Faculty members Mary Haydu and Barbara Rhodes worked closely with her to overcome the obstacles she faced in these academic areas and to instill within her a sense of belonging and security regarding campus life.

In her essay, she discussed the value of Haydu's writing course by noting, "English is my second language, so what I learned in developmental writing class will be with me not only throughout college, but for the rest of my life. I cannot imagine going through a college composition class without the strengths that I acquired in this course."

Through CSS, Rhodes showed Garcia how to eliminate the obstacles that stood between her and mathematics, thereby empowering her to successfully complete College Algebra. "Mathematics has not been one of my strengths, and CSS allowed me to set goals and understand that there were many roads available for me to take in order to achieve the good grade I wanted in a math course." Garcia said.

The confidence she gained through such academic successes is also evident in some of her other recent awards. Garcia received the Department of Academic Enrichment's Writing Across the Curriculum and the Academic Enrichment Recognition in Reading awards in April 2001.

Garcia is not only on the road to academic success, but through numerous volunteer endeavors, she is getting well prepared for a career helping others. Her volunteerism includes serving as a translator for several agencies: the Johnson County Sheriff's Department, the Knob Noster Police Department, the Christian Children of America, the Western Missouri Medical Center in Warrensburg, and the Bates County Memorial Hospital in Butler. She also volunteers with the Evelyn Brown Laney Hospice in Appleton City, the Community Blood Bank, the EMT Emergency Medical Services in Holden, and she also volunteers as a peer leader for the TRIO Program.

Submitted by Tina Adams

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