Kamrad promoted to Director of TRIO Pre-College Programs

Dave Kamrad recently accepted the position of Director of TRIO Pre-College Programs at Finlandia University. Kamrad has been with the University for nearly 30 years.

“I have seen a lot of good that these programs can do for our students,” Kamrad said. “I’m looking forward to continuing to build relationships with schools and students to see sustained success for our programs.”

Kamrad has been with the university since 1988, moving from TRIO Student Support Services to TRIO Upward Bound in 1993 and into a role with TRIO Talent Search from 1998 until accepting this position.

Kamrad will oversee the operations of TRIO Talent Search and TRIO Upward Bound. The two programs are both federally funded and provide incredible opportunities to modest income and/or first-generation students to be better prepared for college. TRIO Upward Bound serves 9th through 12th grades students from schools within the Copper Country Intermediate School District (CCISD). TRIO Talent Search serves 6th through 12th grade students within the CCISD, Gogebic-Ontonagon Intermediate School District and Forest Park School District.

He has seen the programs grow into being a key part of student success for hundreds of U.P. students each year.

“Both programs have changed in positive ways through the years in an effort to increase direct contact with students,” Kamrad said. “Now we’re in nearly every school in the western U.P. with wonderful programming for students. We’ve watched students who likely wouldn’t have found their way to college go to schools like the University of Michigan on full-ride scholarships.”

Moving forward, he’s looking to expand operations by getting the programs into the community as much as possible.

“In some ways, we’re still misunderstood by our community,” he said. “We’ll continue to get out there and promote our programs and what we’re doing for and in our community with the students we serve.”

Kamrad is taking over the role formerly held by Joe Zerbst, who accepted a position with Michigan Works. Learn more about the TRIO Pre-College Programs by visiting keweenawtrio.org or by calling (906) 487-7343.

Story originally posted at finlandia.edu/news.