From TRIO Student to TRIO Advocate: RCC’s Karina Ambriz joins TRIO Advocates by Sharing Her Story on Capitol Hill

Karina Ambriz, Outreach Specialist for the Upward Bound programs at Riverside City College, recently joined hundreds of TRIO professionals, alumni, and students at the Council for Opportunity in Education (COE) Policy Seminar: Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C.—the largest gathering in recent years. For Ambriz, the conference was more than a professional opportunity; it was a full-circle moment rooted in personal experience. Accompanying Ambriz were current TRIO students from RCC.

A proud alum of the Norco College Upward Bound (2010–2013) and TRIO Student Support Services (2013–2017) programs, Ambriz traveled to the nation’s capital to advocate for the same programs that helped shape her academic journey. At the COE conference, she trained alongside other TRIO advocates to “Walk the Capitol Hill” and speak directly to lawmakers about the importance of federally funded TRIO programs that serve first-generation, low-income students, veterans, and students with disabilities.

“I had the opportunity to speak to the Legislative Correspondents and Assistants of five House of Representatives from California,” said Ambriz. “Even though some weren’t from my district, I was asked to share my experience as a TRIO alum and current TRIO professional. It was a powerful moment.”

Ambriz met with staff from the offices of Representatives Mark Takano (39th District), Raul Ruiz (25th District), Pete Aguilar (33rd District), Norma Torres (35th District), and Ken Calvert (41st District), using her platform to share stories—both her own and those of her students—highlighting the lasting impact of programs like Upward Bound and TRIO Student Support Services at RCC.

“Working with TRIO students has been impactful, and I see myself in many of them,” she said. “Being able to present their experiences to our lawmakers was an honor. It’s important they know the real-life impact these programs have.”

Today, as an Outreach Specialist at RCC, Ambriz draws from her own journey to mentor students from similar backgrounds. Her unique perspective bridges the gap between past and present, advocacy and action.

Alongside fellow professionals and students from Norco College and UC Riverside, Ambriz emphasized the critical role TRIO programs play in increasing access to higher education and improving student success.

“The seminars and training at the conference, combined with the congressional visits, strengthened my commitment to our diverse community—especially during times of uncertainty that have brought stress and worry to our students and their families,” she said.

Looking back, Ambriz credits TRIO for transforming her life—first as a high school student, then as a college student, and now as a professional working to uplift others.

“TRIO helped me in high school, in college, and now in my career,” Ambriz said. “I’m a product of its influence. And now, I see the extraordinary impact it continues to have on the students I serve every day. Losing programs like this would be devastating. We must keep fighting for them.”

For more information about TRIO programs at RCC, contact Karina Ambriz at karina.ambriz@rcc.edu or 951-222-8139.