National Park College (NPC) alumna, Ashley Kincannon was recently awarded the 2020
TRIO Achiever by the Arkansas Association of Student Assistance Programs (AASAP).
Kincannon graduated from NPC in 2010 and transferred to Henderson State University
where she completed a bachelor’s degree in English. She earned a Master of Science
in Education, English as a Second Language in 2016 and completed an educational specialist
degree in curriculum leadership in 2018. She is a teacher at Lake Hamilton Junior
High School.
TRIO advisor and curriculum coordinator Becky McAlister nominated Kincannon for the
award. “I had the honor of first meeting Ashley when she graduated from high school
and began attending National Park College. Ashley is a true testament to the impact
TRIO programs make in students’ lives,” said McAlister.
The TRIO Achiever award is given to an outstanding former TRIO participant each year
and is selected from nominations statewide. The TRIO Achiever award gives the TRIO
community an opportunity to showcase alumni and their successes. “This award serves
as a source of pride in knowing that TRIO continues to make a difference in the lives
of thousands of first-generation, low-income students throughout the AASAP region
and the United States,” added McAlister.
Kincannon credits the TRIO programs, Talent Search and Student Support Services for
her college success. “I will never have enough words to adequately express my gratitude
for the opportunity I had to participate in the TRIO Programs. TRIO will forever be
a part of who I am today and who I will become. The high school program, Talent Search,
played an incredible role in my journey to college. I do not think I could have survived
college without the help of the program, Student Support Services (SSS). I honestly
viewed SSS as my family and my ‘home away from home.’ If I was not in a class, I was
with my SSS family getting what I needed to thrive throughout my college journey.
It is a true honor to receive the TRIO Achiever award. Because of TRIO, I have achieved
success.”
Kincannon will be invited to speak at the AASAP virtual fall conference in October,
and the Southwest Association of Student Assistance Programs (SWASAP) fall conference
in November.
