About ASPIRE

ASPIRE Mission

To provide an association and a forum for professional personnel involved in TRIO programs or other programs devoted to educational opportunity for low income and first generation college students.

To provide a vehicle which will strengthen the professionalism and expertise of association members through communication, professional development, political awareness, and technical assistance.

To provide unity of purpose, definition, and representation among projects and project personnel.

Early History of ASPIRE

In Denver during the fall of 1976, personnel from the forty-eight TRIO programs in Federal Region VIII contributed $2 each toward the expenses of a committee whose purpose was to organize a professional organization. That night, a group of the faithful gathered in a hotel room to come up with a name for the new association. After numerous suggestions that produced unpronounceable acronyms, "Association of Special Programs in Region Eight -- ASPIRE" was chosen.

TRIO was less than 10 years old, and was administered entirely through the regional offices. Project personnel had been unaware of the forces that influence funding for their programs, but slowly began to realize the need for a coordinated national effort to effect funding, to communicate about issues, and to provide training. ASPIRE was joining an emerging movement among TRIO personnel nationally.

In 1977, ASPIRE organizers disseminated "News Flashes" that contained information about efforts of TRIO personnel in obtaining the FY 1977 increase and encouraged project personnel to write letters and support the effort for the increase in the FY 1978 appropriation. In addition, three proposal writing workshops were held, and ASPIRE mounted its first conference in Park City, Utah in October.

Much has transpired in the years since. The Association of Special Programs in Region Eight is now ASPIRE, Inc. It has matured into a professional organization serving over 500 staff members in 127 projects. It administers the ASPIRE Training Institute that provides training nationally to TRIO personnel. ASPIRE continues to support its members with professional development, timely information relating to national issues, and its members advocate at the state and national levels on behalf of our programs and participants.

Montana Chapter of ASPIRE

AMOUNT OF FEDERAL FUNDING: $9,953,986

NUMBER OF TRIO STUDENTS SERVED: 9,976

STATE PRESIDENT: Zach Hawkins (10/10)

STATE INITIATIVE CHAIR:
Ray Carlisle (10/05)
Phone: (406) 243.4202
Fax: (406) 683.7809
Email:ray.carlisle@umontana.edu

STATE ASSOCIATION’S ADDRESS:
Montana Chapter of ASPIRE , Inc.
c/o Zach Hawkins
Montana Tech of the University of Montana
1300 W. Park Street
Butte, MT 59701
Phone: 406-439-2395
Fax: 406-496-4696
email: zhawkins@mtech.edu

STATE INITIATIVE ACTIVITIES THIS PAST YEAR:

Montana TRIO Fact Book
The ASPIRE-MT State Initiative Committee produced a 20-page Montana TRIO Fact Book highlighting statistics that demonstrate statewide impact of TRIO programs in Montana. Data and text are organized to be equally useful for state legislators , state agencies and other education organizations. The Montana TRIO Fact Book statistics were compiled from Montana’s 2008-09 Annual Performance Reports. It also includes seven student profiles with photos. The fact book was designed to be easily updated every year with current statistics and new student profiles. It has been distributed to participants of the 2010 Montana state meeting that was held in Helena , Montana participants of the Council’s 2010 Policy Seminar and the participants of the Montana TRIO Achiever’s Luncheon.

MONTANA LINKS:

Montana State Legislature Web Site

Governor Brian Schweitzer Web Site

Montana University System