Not only does the University of Northern Iowa prepare its undergraduate students for careers right out of college, but UNI programming also lays the foundation for a successful path forward for students long before they may be considering their next steps beyond high school graduation.

The UNI Center for Urban Education (UNI-CUE) has been a pillar of the Waterloo community since its inception in the 1960s, facilitating lifelong learning for students as kindergarten age. The center also recently expanded to serve students from Cedar Rapids.

Among other services, UNI-CUE houses numerous TRIO programs, funded by the U.S. Department of Education to provide educational opportunities to students from disadvantaged backgrounds, first-generation college students and lower-income families. 

The experiences with UNI-CUE are so impactful that many years later, some adults can point to their time in TRIO programs as pivotal to their success. 

Shelly Smith was part of TRIO Educational Talent Search (ETS) as a high school student. ETS puts on workshops, tutoring, field trips, college visits and direct services aimed at helping students succeed in higher education.

“My experience in high school in the 90s was knowing staff from UNI-CUE in the hallways of my high school,” she said. “I knew that they cared about us as students and that they were from the University of Northern Iowa. They had a presence, and if we had questions, they could answer them.”

Smith got involved with Educational Talent search in the midst of her high school career, and her younger sister was accepted into the Upward Bound program soon after. Both sisters attended high school in Waterloo and have graduated from UNI.

ETS was crucial for helping Smith with her college applications and filling out her FAFSA. UNI-CUE staff also identified her as a fantastic candidate for dual enrollment at UNI as a high school senior. They walked her through the entire process, from selecting courses to getting a parking pass. 

“That was amazing to be able to go to high school for a couple classes that I needed and leave and then go to UNI to take a class each semester and be amongst college students,” said Smith. “It was a phenomenal experience for me.”

Growing up, Smith said she always knew she had two choices after graduating high school: she could either enroll in college or enlist in the military. She wanted to go to college, but was unsure how she would get there. When she dual enrolled, that all changed, and it became easier to picture herself getting a four-year degree. She had the validation and the confidence she needed to succeed. 

Upon completing high school, Smith ended up going to UNI to study family services and nonprofit youth agency administration.

“Talent Search is 100% the reason why I went to UNI,” she said. “I think they were the pathway that allowed me to blossom and bloom. They were that support that was there to encourage and guide and hold my hand and make things possible.”

More than 20 years after graduating college, Smith returned to UNI to get her master’s degree. Now as the assistant director of the same program that got her involved at UNI-CUE, she plays a crucial role in serving more than 1,200 Waterloo students annually. 

“I love being that resource for Waterloo Community School students who want to go anywhere from UNI to Stanford,” she said. “I love planning experiences to prepare our students for their next level, challenging them but also rewarding and working with community partners to make it happen.”

Smith and her husband, Skip, who is also a UNI alum, are also heavily invested in helping the next generation of Panthers. They support the Panther Scholarship Club and Bob Byrnes Kingpin Fund and are season ticket holders to all UNI athletics.

UNI-CUE also holds a special place in Azline Nelson’s story. Having grown up in Waterloo, Nelson participated in Educational Talent Search and Upward Bound.

“TRIO changed my life,” said Nelson. “Witnessing my three older sisters participate in the Classic Upward Bound program was a positive experience that encouraged me to pursue a collegiate education.”

Nelson joined ETS in 2003 as a sixth grader and participated in Classic Upward Bound when she was in high school. As a sophomore, Nelson had the opportunity to attend the National Student Leadership Conference where she met other ambitious students and strengthened her leadership skills. She went on to attend Spelman College where she became a National Gates Millenium Scholar.

“Without the support of my mentor Mickey Johnson and the staff at the UNI-CUE, I would not be where I am today,” she said. “His encouragement and reminder that my past does not define who I am has given me strength and courage to be bold and brilliant throughout my life.”

Today, Nelson works as a specialist at The Vanguard Group. In July, she was named in Faces of TRIO by the National TRIO Alumni Association.