Samuel Lian

During high school, Samuel Lian experienced homelessness, depression, and a dysfunctional family life.

“It affected my high school grades. My ACT scores didn’t qualify for scholarships, but I heard about Tulsa Achieves,” he says.

Although Samuel was unsure what he wanted to do after high school, he knew college would help him find his momentum.

Using the Tulsa Achieves Scholarship, he enrolled at TCC. He credits the support from the TRIO program for successfully getting him to graduation. He says the program allowed him to enroll early, allowing him to get the class schedule he needed and select the professors he wanted. This and the added TRIO support and resources helped him consistently earn A’s.

Samuel, who was the first in his family to attend college, graduated in May 2022 with a Psychology degree.