Student Spotlight: Tegan Donnelly

Tegan Donnelly, a Plymouth State University Senior, focuses her studies on History with a minor in Creative Writing and Women's Studies.  As an incoming freshman in 2010, Donnelly applied and was accepted to Passport, now known as TRiO Scholars.

TRiO Scholars is a federal program serving first-generation college students, students with disabilities, and low-income students and was established in 1968, serving undergraduate students across the nation. TRiO Scholars meets in the PASS Office, located downstairs of the Lamson Library. With the PASS Office and TRiO Scholars putting in the effort to help undergraduate student to enrich their learning ability, students walk away from this program with a diploma they know they have worked hard for. 

Coming into the program, Donnelly became a mentee and received a mentor, someone who she could look up to for advice, study skills, and most importantly, someone she could call a friend in a new environment. "I started as a mentee. I got to move in a couple days earlier than anyone else, and got to meet the participants of TRiO. It was like having an instant friend, group of kids who came from the same socioeconomic class as you, but who are also academically driven," said Donnelly.

"As a mentee, I was shown around campus by my mentor, allowing me to have an instant friend. Mentors go to the dining hall if you don't have someone to go with and to make sure mentees adjust socially and academically and most importantly, be able to balance the two lives," said Donnelly.

After being under the wing of her mentor for her full freshmen year, Donnelly soon become a mentor sophomore year, and took many under her own wing, showing them the ropes around PSU.

Donnelly accompanied freshman TRiO Scholars to the dining hall and gave them tours around campus to make them feel more comfortable. She made sure to show her mentees that this program wasn't just to enhance academic performance, but also to become comfortable with a huge transition of life, from home to on your own at college. "As a freshmen, it's easy to forget about academics and just focus on the social aspect of college, but as a mentor it's important to show them the balance," said Donnelly.

After juggling mentees, Donnelly had a total of about six who she encouraged to be brave, to be themselves, to keep their eyes on the prize: the importance of an education. Donnelly gradually worked her way up the academic ladder due to hard work and dedication and became Head Mentor of TRiO Scholars. Spending most of her free time in and out of the PASS office, it holds significant importance to her. "The pass office is my "thing." If I didn't join this mentoring program I wouldn't have found my "thing." This programs has also opened the door to three different jobs for me so it also allows me to support myself," said Donnelly.

TRiO Scholars and the PASS Office have not only mentored Donnelly, but also led her to a greater future, presented great opportunities, and job offers. Not only is she head mentor of TRiO Scholars, Donnelly also works at the front desk of the PASS Office, CRLA certified to do studies skills tutoring, subject tutoring in History, English and Women Studies related classes, all on top of being a Legislative intern at Planned Parenthood with a post-graduation job with NARAL Pro-Choice New Hampshire.

Donnelly isn't only taking from the program a wealth of academia, but also some of the best friends PSU could offer her. Angela Ricciardi, one such friend, is a Tutor Coordinator at PSU. "Angie has had a lot of impact on me, and I refer to her as my campus mom. She really cares about this program and cares about the people who come into the office. She has been incredibly supportive and is someone I always want to stay in contact with," said Donnelly.

Coming from a low-income family with a single parent, Donnelly will soon be graduating and leaving the PASS office with a greater sense of self and confidence, knowing that she has worked hard for what she has and is able to support herself. Donnelly has set a great example to fellow undergraduates to follow their dreams because anything is possible if you try hard enough.