April 16, 2010

Briar Cliff Employee Receives Iowa TRIO Award

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – Briar Cliff University is pleased to announce that Jonathon Fields, manager of information technology help desk services at BCU, has been named “Iowa TRIO Achiever for 2010” by Iowa Mid-America Association of Educational Opportunity Program Personnel. He will be honored at the TRIO Tri-State Conference on April 19 in La Crosse, Wis.

Fields, who joined Briar Cliff in 2007, holds a bachelor’s degree in computer technology. A graduate of Educational Talent Search and Upward Bound, he was cited for the award based on his academic and professional success in college and in his work at Briar Cliff.

“Upward Bound and Educational Talent Search greatly influenced my life,” said Fields, who was the first member of his family to earn a college degree. “I wouldn’t be where I am today without these two important programs.”

Upward Bound and Educational Talent Search, under the umbrella of TRIO, are college prep programs that create a learning environment for low-income and/or first-generation college potential middle and high school students. TRIO increases educational opportunities for students by providing academic advising, career, college and financial aid information.

Enrollment at Briar Cliff University is over 1,100 students from 28 states. Students are educated in the Franciscan tradition of excellence in the liberal arts and career preparation in an environment of care, compassion and openness to all. For more information, please visit www.briarcliff.edu.

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