TRIO Achiever Award
The TRIO Achiever candidate must:
- The TRIO Achiever candidate must be a former TRIO Project participant who was enrolled in and successfully completed a TRIO program in the ASPIRE region.
- The TRIO Achiever candidate must have enrolled in and successfully completed a post-secondary program of study resulting in a baccalaureate or terminal degree from an accredited institution of higher education.
- The TRIO Achiever candidate must be a person of high stature within his/her profession or has received recognition for outstanding academic achievement.
- The TRIO Achiever candidate must currently be employed above the entry level designation for his/her profession or enrolled in a program for a degree above the baccalaureate degree.
- The TRIO Achiever candidate must have made significant civic, community, or professional contributions.
- Participation in the TRIO project must have had a significant impact upon the candidate in obtaining his/her educational and/or professional objectives (as acknowledged by the participant).
TRIO Achievers who are selected should be prepared to present a five minute address to the ASPIRE membership during the TRIO Achievers’ Luncheon at the 2023 conference in Park City, UT.
Victor Burrola is a dedicated leader in philanthropy, housing access, and economic inclusion. A first-generation college graduate from Colorado State University, he earned his Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts in 2002. Raised in Greeley, Colorado, Victor’s journey was shaped by the TRIO and Upward Bound programs, which he discovered through a high school football teammate.
He currently serves as Executive Director of Philanthropy and Community Impact for the Maryland and Greater Washington, D.C. region at Wells Fargo, where he leads the company’s regional philanthropy and community relations strategy. His work focuses on advancing economic opportunity and strengthening underserved communities.
Victor previously led the national foreclosure prevention strategy at UnidosUS during the 2008 recession, helping over 525,000 households avoid foreclosure. He is also a seasoned policy advocate in housing, community development, and financial capability at all levels of government.
He holds a Master’s in Public Administration from American University in Washington, D.C., and remains committed to building inclusive, resilient communities through strategic leadership and collaboration.
Outside of work, Victor enjoys spending time with his wife Cynthia, their five boys—Jacob, Joaquin, Marcus, Noah, and Ben—their two dogs, Peanut and Buttercup, and visiting friends and family in Colorado, Arizona, and D.C.
Courtney Hocking is a proud Southern Colorado native and SSS TRIO alumna who has dedicated her career to public service and higher education. A graduate of Adams State University, she now serves as a Senior Legislative Aide at the Colorado General Assembly. She recently received her Master’s in Global Affairs. Courtney has worked to expand opportunities for rural students, including co-creating the McDaniel Legislative Intern Scholarship, and continues to champion equity and access in education and policy.
Sheena Martinez joined Colorado School of Mines in February of 2022 as the Assistant Vice President of Student Life for Equity and Engagement. Sheena was born in Colorado, growing up in multiple cities in Colorado and Wyoming, and attended Colorado State University where she earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees. Sheena is a proud Upward Bound alumna, first-generation college graduate and attributes her passion for social justice, equity, access, and inclusion to her personal and professional experiences engaging in educational access programs in the US and abroad. As a student and professional, she has actively engaged with a variety of organizations on college campuses and has a deep appreciation for the experience and skills students build through their engagement on campus. She also helped launch the Upward Bound program at Community College of Aurora and served as the Director. Furthermore, she has a deep understanding of the importance of engagement as it relates to retention, completion and belongingness. Her areas of supervision include SAIL, NeST, and MEP and TRIO Upward Bound Math Science and she is extremely excited to work with folks to identify opportunities for collaboration to increase equity, access, and inclusion in Student Life.
