Advice for Middle and High School Students Planning to Attend College
August 03, 2026
They are perhaps the biggest questions most high school students face: Should I go to college and, if so, where?
To help answer those questions, UNT Dallas invited dozens of area middle and high school students to the first-ever TRIO Summer Symposium on July 31, 2026, in the university’s new STEM Building. TRIO provides college campus exposure to 6th through 12th graders, and the youths and teens in attendance had already spent weeks at UNT Dallas in May, June and July.
“Don’t disqualify yourself,” urged Dr. Kimberly Riddick, Director of the UNT Dallas Trailblazer Elite program, which provides resources, training, and mentorship for first-generation college students. “You don’t have to navigate college alone.”
Dr. Riddick and five other faculty and staff leaders shared their advice, insight and personal experiences about their educational and professional journeys.
“You don’t have to be pigeon-holed,” said Dr. Jessica Alvarez, Asst. Dean for Student Success in Pre-Health Programs. “Find your village.”
President Warren von Eschenbach kicked off the day’s activities with message about purpose and persistence. “A job is something you can get. A rewarding career is something you achieve with purpose,” President von Eschenbach said. “Pick what you’re going to do – and enjoy doing it. That’s one way to find your purpose – or reinforce it.
The President shared a story about his mother, now 84, who was the first woman admitted to the engineering school at Villanova University back in 1959. She dropped out but never gave up and went back to earn her degree 25 years later. “That’s persistence,” he said. “Nobody gets through college in a straight line. The people who finish are the ones who keep getting back up when they get knocked down.”
One of the speakers, Caleb Simmons, knows exactly what President von Eschenbach was talking about. Simmons was homeless, sleeping on whatever bed or couch he could find, when he enrolled at UNT Dallas. Simmons eventually found housing – and a path to success. “I changed my major three times,” he said. The university offered support and resources to keep Simmons on track toward a degree. He is now Director of the thriving Esports program at UNT Dallas, guiding several teams to championship victories. “Keep moving forward,” Simmons told the TRIO students, regardless of the barriers blocking your way.
Dr. Aaron Bartula, Associate Professor of Criminal Justice and Sociology, and Dr. Alvarez stressed the importance of curiosity for college students, whatever their major. “Be inquisitive,” said Bartula. “Ask questions – it’s not a weakness,” Alvarez said.
Dr. Bartula also addressed what it takes to be a leader. “There are so many facets of leadership,” he said. “Helping someone with their homework shows leadership qualities.”
Another important quality for college students is a growth mindset – being open to change instead of being rigid. “Skills you learn here will prepare you to be adaptable and flexible in the workplace,” explained Dr. Dawn Sales, Asst. Provost for Academic Affairs, who moderated the conversation.
Dr. Constance Lacy, Dean of the College of Education and Human Development, is a perfect example. She was member of TRIO as a student at the Eastfield campus of Dallas College in the 1980s, where she earned a dual associate degree in social work and substance abuse counseling. The guidance and mentorship Dr. Lacy received through TRIO was instrumental in her success and prepared her to transfer to UNT in Denton, where she received a bachelor’s degree in social work. She later earned her master’s and PhD at UTA. Dr. Lacy is also a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW).
“I took the scenic route,” Dr. Lacy said about her journey through college and career. Dr. Lacy was a single mom with two children when she first enrolled at Eastfield. Later, she became the first African-American student at UNT to win the Ronald E. McNair Scholarship and, at the national level, the Harry S. Truman Scholarship.
To the current TRIO students in the audience, Dr. Lacy stressed “the importance of setting goals.” She reiterated a point made by President von Eschenbach about career paths that rarely go in a straight line or exactly as planned. The “zig-zag” should be embraced, Dr. Lacy explained, especially with roles and professions evolving so quickly because of AI.
In anticipation of AI-driven changes, TRIO students got the opportunity to explore the many academic programs and majors offered by UNT Dallas in its three colleges: Business and Technology, Liberal Arts and Sciences, and Education and Human Development. The “Matching Majors” activity allowed them to connect their interests with an academic program and a potential career.
Other symposium sessions touched on ways to build the most effective college application and how to stay healthy – mentally and physically – as they the face the challenges of higher education.
TRIO pre-collegiate programs include Upward Bound and Educational Talent Search. A third TRIO program, Ronald E. McNair Scholars, serves UNT Dallas undergraduate students. The university also offers an additional program known as Rising Blazers.
As the engaging day came to close, TRIO Executive Director LaKisha Jackson told faculty and staff participants that topics they talked about resonated with students. “We will carry this momentum into our 2026-27 project year,” Jackson said.
Parents, students, counselors and educators interested in UNT Dallas TRIO programs can reach out to TRIO@untdallas.edu or call 972.338.1892.
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