Barbara Brodsky, director of TRiO Student Support Services at Bellevue College, received the inaugural Distinguished Service Award at a recent meeting of the Washington State TRiO Association.

TRiO is a federally-funded program that provides academic and personal support to students with limited income, disabilities, or who are the first in their families to attend college.

The association cited her critical role in raising awareness around issues of access and retention for first generation and low-income college students, her leadership as a board member on a regional association and her work raising funds for scholarships for TRiO students.

“This award gives welcome recognition to Barbara for all she has done on behalf of students not only at Bellevue College, but across the state and the entire northwest,” said Tom Pritchard, vice president of Student Services at the college.