Emilee Spahnle remembers a conversation with her mom while she was in high school about affording college that prompted her to offer not to go so her family would not have to bear the cost. Spahnle’s mom, not having the opportunity to earn a bachelor’s degree herself, didn’t let Spahnle off the hook – Spahnle would be going on to earn her degree. Persevering through personal struggles in high school, Spahnle earned a scholarship to help pay tuition at Boise State.
After her first year as a psychology major, Spahnle found the TRIO Rising Scholars program in the Center for Multicultural Educational Opportunities and hit her stride as a college student with the support and mentorship available for first-generation college students like her. Spahnle has embraced TRIO fully as a peer mentor and office assistant in the TRIO Educational Talent Search office. In addition, the program has given Spahnle the opportunity to build a friendship community, attend conferences and learn more about underrepresented students, who she hopes to continue to help after she graduates with a minor in American Sign Language.
“My overall goal is to make therapy more accessible to everyone by making my services available to the hearing and the deaf communities as well as limited income families,” said Spahnle. “I would also love to learn Spanish to serve Spanish speaking communities.”