Birmingham, AL – Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07) announced $3,504,985.00 in federal TRIO Grant funding for seven colleges and universities across Alabama’s 7^th Congressional District. These grants are part of the Federal TRIO Programs, designed to provide students from disadvantaged backgrounds with opportunities for academic development and assistance with basic academic requirements. Grants were awarded to the University of Alabama at Birmingham, George Corley Wallace State Community College Selma, T.A. Lawson State Community College – Birmingham Campus, the University of Alabama, the University of West Alabama, T.A. Lawson State Community College – Bessemer Campus, Miles College and Alabama State University.

“I am thrilled to announce this substantial round of TRIO Grant funding for colleges and universities across Alabama’s 7^th Congressional district,” said Rep. Sewell. “I know first-hand the transformative power of a good education and remain committed to ensuring that every child across our district is given the academic tools they need to thrive. I am especially excited to see that much of this funding will go toward our HBCUs who are in desperate need of support. Our district’s HBCUs are vital to our culture, our economy and our children’s future, and I remain committed to ensuring their continued vitality.”

“We are delighted to receive these highly competitive grants which are particularly important to the 7^th District,” said Tracy Lyons, Executive Director of Undergraduate Student Success and Retention, UAB. “Our district is both urban and rural and our baccalaureate attainment rates are comparatively low. For these reasons, Congresswoman Sewell is passionate about TRIO funding and annually hosts proposal writing workshops to help grantees in the district. We are grateful to her office for their continuous outreach and assistance in securing this funding.”

"The Student Support Services Fedral TRIO Program at Wallace Community College Selma is extremely excited about being awarded a grant totaling $2,530,750 over a five-year period from the U.S. Department of Education,” said Herbert Thomas, Director of Student Support Services, Wallace Community College, Selma. “We are very appreciative of the efforts and support provided by congresswoman Terri A. Sewell and her staff in helping us in the grant process. These much needed funds will allow us to continue serving first generation and low income college students. Our goal is to make a positive impact on their academic trajectory at Wallace Community College Selma and beyond."

“We are grateful for the unwavering support Congresswoman Terri Sewell provides to Miles College," said Bobbie Knight, Miles College President. "This multi-year grant provides vital resources that will strengthen our student success infrastructure, supporting our efforts to increase academic standing, student retention and graduation rates. We meet each student where he or she is, diagnosing their needs and connecting with them in a way that changes their lives. Funding of this size builds upon our success.”

“On August 5^th, Alabama State University received notice of its $294,725 award for the Student Support Services 2021-25 grant competition administered through the Department of Education,” said Acquanetta Pinkard, TRIO Grants Director at Alabama State University. “This amount is awarded each year for a five year cycle. We are thankful to the TRIO champions on Capitol Hill such as Representative Terri Sewell, for her efforts in supporting TRIO programs at Alabama State University and assisting in securing this funding. Amid this pandemic, this is a great accomplishment for our institution and needed service for underrepresented students at Alabama State University.”

Alabama’s 7^th Congressional District TRIO Grant Recipients