TRIO Educational Opportunity Center (EOC)
TRIO Educational Opportunity Center (EOC) helps you plan your educational future. We will help you navigate the admissions and financial aid process at the college, university, or vocational school of your choice.
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EOC Services
All TRIO-Educational Opportunity Center services are free and include but are not limited to:
- Admissions applications assistance
- Financial Aid application assistance
- Scholarship Information / Assistance
- Academic guidance
- GED/Secondary School Guidance
- Career Planning
- Workshops on College Success Strategies
- Transfer Information
- Fee Payment assistance
TRIO-EOC services will benefit you by helping you:
- Become informed about college, university, and vocational opportunities available
- Understand your opportunities for funding your education
- Become aware career opportunities
- Stay connected to community resources
- Gain access to on-going mentorship and support
You are eligible to participate in TRIO-EOC if you:
- Are 19 years of ago or older; or a high school senior not participating in TRIO-Talent Search
- Are a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen, and
- Express a desire to enroll, or are enrolled in a program of postsecondary education, and request information or assistance in applying for admission to, or financial aid for such a program;
- Have not earned a Bachelor’s degree
- Are a veteran, regardless of age, and meet the above requirements
Texarkana College TRIO-EOC team partners with the Adult Education & Literacy Program for students interested in earning a High School Equivalency Diploma.
Stats
$0+
Millions of dollars in financial aid awarded
$500,000+
in scholarships earned
3,522
financial aid applications completed
4,103
Admission applications completed
Scholarships
The Overcoming Barriers Scholarship Fund is a program available for all Educational Opportunity Center at Texarkana College program participants who meet the scholarship criteria. In addition to the scholarship criteria, recipients must exhibit a desire to succeed academically, have strong character, and demonstrate financial need.
Learn more about the Overcoming Barriers Scholarship.
Upcoming Events
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Staff
Our staff is made up of caring and qualified individuals ready to help you.
Tenequa Martin, Director
Tenequa Martin is the Director of TRIO Educational Opportunity Center and TRIO Talent Search at Texarkana College. With over a decade of experience in higher education, she has supported more than 5,000 students across the region in areas of enrollment, financial aid, and college readiness. A proud first-generation college graduate, Tenequa is passionate about empowering students and families with the tools to navigate higher education. She holds degrees from Lyon College, Oklahoma Wesleyan University, and Southern Arkansas University.
Fun fact: Tenequa was a college athlete and was inducted into the Lyon College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2021.
Ashley Childs, Coordinator
Ashley Childs is the Coordinator for the TRIO Educational Opportunity Center at Texarkana College. She was born and raised in Texarkana, TX. Ashley graduated from Liberty-Eylau and went on to earn her bachelor’s and master’s at Henderson State University in Sociology and School Counseling, respectively. She has worked in higher education for over 12 years and loves helping support other first-generation students like herself.
Fun Fact: Ashley is currently working on her Doctorate in Educational Leadership at Texas A&M University – Texarkana
Nicholas “Nick” Watson, Educational Specialist
Nicholas Watson was born in Dallas, Texas, and is a Texarkana native who has destroyed stereotypes and defied the odds by overcoming learning and developmental challenges. Nicholas is an advocate for student-athletes and serves as an available resource to individuals who have learning disabilities. Nicholas is a known achiever to all who know him, graduating Valedictorian in 2021 from Arkansas High School with a 4.8 GPA. In December 2024, Nicholas graduated from Harding University with a 3.7 GPA and received his Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Minor in Mathematics.
In Spring 2026, he will graduate with his MBA from the University of Central Arkansas. Nicholas is the son of Andre and Marian Watson. He has two brothers, Christopher and Joshua.
Fun fact: “Anime. Does anything else really matter?”
Schedule an appointment with Nicholas
Jayda Petry, EOC Community Engagement Specialist
Jayda Petry is a proud First-Generation College Student with a passion for supporting others through their educational journeys. She began her career as a work-study student in the Financial Aid Office at Texarkana College, where she discovered her drive to help students navigate the college process with confidence and care.
Jayda holds an Associate’s degree in Behavioral Science from Texarkana College and is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Business. She plans to continue her education next year by earning a Master’s in Social Work.
Jayda is committed to creating safe and welcoming spaces where individuals feel empowered to be themselves and supported in their goals.
Fun Fact: Jayda loves to travel and has visited several countries. Though born in Texas, she has lived in many places and brings a broad perspective to her work.
Samuel Jones, EOC Community Engagement Specialist
Samuel Jones is a Community Engagement Specialist for the TRIO EOC program at Texarkana College. Samuel is a first-generation college student who recently earned his Associate of Behavioral Science from Texarkana College. He is now pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work at Texas A&M University–Texarkana, with plans to continue on to a Master’s in Social Work. Samuel is an active leader both on campus and in the community, participating in organizations such as ACTIVATE, Black Student Association, EagleLEAD, and the Honors Program. His passion for service and leadership reflects his commitment to making a positive impact in the lives of others.
Fun Fact: Samuel has a knack for cooking, so be sure to ask him for recipe ideas!
Resources
We know that it can be hard to focus on starting or finishing school because of life circumstances. Through our partnerships with local resources, we have compiled a community resources document in the hopes of helping you connect with the people who can help you with different needs you might be experiencing. Although this list is constantly being updated we have already compiled over 100 resources. This may be a lot of information to try and get through so please feel encouraged to set up an appointment with one of our staff members so we can help you connect with the best resources for you.
View Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Our offices are located at 2500 N. Robison Rd. in Texarkana, TX. We are in the Nelson Administration building on the first floor in the Enrollment Services office.
The Federal TRIO Programs (TRIO) are Federal outreach and student services programs designed to identify and provide services for individuals who need assistance on their academic journey. TRIO includes eight programs targeted to serve and assist individuals to progress through the academic pipeline from middle school to postbaccalaureate programs.
The TRIO Educational Opportunity Center is a free program focused on supporting students through the GED and higher education process. Our staff is ready to help with any questions or concerns you may have. We offer a number of workshops and resources free for our participants to take advantage of.
First-generation is a term used for students whose parents do not have a bachelor’s degree. This also includes students who have a parent with a bachelor’s degree, but the parent was not part of the student’s life before the age of 18.
FAFSA stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid. This is an application a student can fill out to see if they qualify for the Pell Grant, free money the government gives students that never has to be paid back.
The amount of Pell grant you will qualify for varies depending on a variety of information. You can use the link below to use the federal aid estimator tool. To have an accurate number however, you will need to fill out a FAFSA application and register for classes. https://studentaid.gov/aid-estimator/
We always encourage students to complete the FAFSA because they never know what circumstances may allow them to qualify. This can also give students a chance to qualify for student loans, work study, and scholarships.
We can help you apply to any college, university, or trade school of your choice!
You will be an active EOC participant until September 1st of each year. At that time, we will need you to fill out an updated EOC application to renew your active status.
Thank you for your interest in donating to our scholarship fund. To learn more about donating please contact a member of our team by calling 903-823-3012 or emailing eoc@texarkanacollege.edu
We look forward to hearing from you!
*The Educational Opportunity Center at Texarkana College is funded through a grant from the United States Department of Education. The grant is funded for $272,753 each year through August 31, 2026.