If you have walked into Normandale Community College’s front entrance the past two years, odds are you have talked to or seen Alex Elbaz at the Student Services front desk. Alex was one of the faces of Normandale, a student ambassador, and an amazing advocate for all of the great opportunities at the college.
He is a low-income and first-generation student, who has a mild form of Autism and a stutter or speech-language impairment. Alex was determined to get his associate degree, and signed up for TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) to receive support from the program.
TRIO SSS coaches meet frequently with students in the program to help them achieve their academic goals to either transfer or complete a degree. The coaches provide one-on-one advising to help students find their path to that success.
Alex not only achieved the goal of graduating with an associate degree in communication, but he was chosen to speak about the importance of TRIO at the end of the year celebration, and the 10-year anniversary ceremony of the program, that featured over 50 alums this summer.
“With the phenomenal support I received from TRIO, they helped show me that no matter who I was or where I came from, I could achieve great things,” said Elbaz. “I wouldn’t have thrived at Normandale as much as I did if it weren’t for TRIO.”
On September 2, Alex started his journey to pursue a bachelor’s degree in journalism at the University of Minnesota. He is passionate about writing and critical thinking, and feels like journalism is the right path for him to become an advocate on a bigger scale.
Alex won’t be able to receive TRIO services at the University of Minnesota, but he is confident the support at Normandale has fully prepared him for success.
He is extremely proud of the mark he left at Normandale, and thankful to all of the support his TRIO coaches provided. Alex wrapped up both of his speeches with these words to show his appreciation for everyone who supported his educational journey.
“I am proud to be a TRIO scholar, a student ambassador, and because of all of you I am proud to call Normandale my home. Once a Normandale student, always a Normandale student.”
top
