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TRIO Educational Opportunity Center (EOC)

About the TRIO Educational Opportunity Center (EOC)

Kilgore College’s TRIO Educational Opportunity Center (EOC) is a one-stop shop resource center that provides FREE services to high school graduates, college students needing financial aid assistance or adults planning to enroll in college or vocational school.

The EOC staff will provide students with assistance in the following areas:

  • Applying to College/Vocational School
  • Applying for College Application Fee Waivers
  • Completing the Financial Aid Applications (FAFSA)
  • Assisting with Scholarship Searches
  • Assisting with enrolling and taking College Placement Exams
  • Understanding and correcting Student Loan Default
  • Assistance or Referrals with applying for Adult Education (GED)

TRIO EOC mission statement & who we serve

TRIO EOC assists clients in Gregg, Harrison, Rusk and Upshur counties with the processes necessary to gain access to post-secondary education.

Need assistance filling out your FAFSA?

The EOC is hosting several FAFSA Palooza events during october!

Kilgore College’s TRIO Educational Opportunity Center (EOC) will host a series of “FAFSA Palooza” events in October to help students and families complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

The sessions are free and open to the public. EOC specialists will be available to provide one-on-one assistance with the 2026-27 FAFSA.

FAFSA Palooza schedule:

  • Oct. 1, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Kilgore College Library, Room 200
  • Oct. 6, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. – KC-Longview, Hendrix Building, Room 207
  • Oct. 7, 1 to 6 p.m. – Kilgore College Library, Room 201
  • Oct. 9, 2 to 6 p.m. – KC-Longview, Hendrix Building, Room 207

TRIO Eoc objectives

  • Completion of College Applications
  • Financial Aid Applications (FAFSA) and FA Verification 
  • Financial Literacy ( Budgeting, Scholarships, Loan Processes and Repayment, FA Maintenance)
  • Entrance or re-entrance into GED Programs  
  • Tutoring services
  • Career and Academic counseling individualized or via workshops
  • Individual Education Planning
  • Workshops on study skills, time management, and test taking
  • Resume writing instruction 
  • Assist with search for test and application fee waivers
  • Invitation to attend college campus tours
  • Invitation to attend educational and/or cultural trips

EOC Locations

Kilgore College – Kilgore campus
Devall Student Center, Office 244
Office: (903) 983-8615
Fax: (903) 983-8267
Email: EOC@kilgore.edu

Kilgore College – Longview campus
Longview Hendrix Building
Offices 200-D & 200-F
Office: (903) 236-2023
Fax: (903) 983-8267
Email: EOC@kilgore.edu

EOC Hours

Longview Office: Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday 8 a.m. to Noon

Kilgore Office: Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

To schedule an appointment with an Educational Opportunity Center advisor, please visit https://linktr.ee/trioeoc.

Apply for EOC services

Schedule an appointment

Students who apply for Kilgore College TRIO EOC services must be a U.S. citizen, national or permanent resident under the following guidelines:
  • US Citizen
  • US National (includes natives of American Samoa or Swain’s Island)
  • Permanent Resident (U.S. permanent resident who has an I-151, I-551, or I-551C)
  • Eligible Non-Citizen (Arrival-Departure Record (I-94) from the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service)
  • Not eligible to be served are holders of student visas (F1, F2, J1, and J-2 Visas)
 
Each applicant must fall under one or more of three primary eligibility criteria:

Applicants must be both first-generation and low-income plus meet one of the *student statuses listed below.

First-Generation Eligibility:

Applying as a “first-generation” for the EOC program means: Neither your natural nor adoptive parents received a degree from a 4 year college.

Low Income Eligibility:

The student falls within the 150% low-income guidelines (EOC staff can help determine this.)

*Student Status:

  • Adults over the age of 19 who do not have a secondary school diploma or its equivalent
  • Adults over the age of 19 who graduated from secondary school and are not already enrolled in a postsecondary education program
  • High school graduates who have not yet enrolled in a college, university, or vocational school
  • Currently enrolled college students who need financial aid assistance

 

Students who apply for Kilgore College TRIO EOC services must be a U.S. citizen, national or permanent resident under the following guidelines:

  • US Citizen
  • US National (includes natives of American Samoa or Swain’s Island)
  • Permanent Resident (U.S. permanent resident who has an I-151, I-551, or I-551C)
  • Eligible Non-Citizen (Arrival-Departure Record (I-94) from the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service)
  • Not eligible to be served are holders of student visas (F1, F2, J1, and J-2 Visas)

 

For more information about Kilgore College’s EOC Program please contact Rosa Hopkins at (903) 236-2026 or email her.

  • In-person appointments are available at both Longview and Kilgore campuses.
  • Virtual Zoom appointments are also available by request.

The TRIO EOC program began on Sept. 1, 2021 with funding for five years provided by a grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Education. Fiscal year funding for 2021-22 is $232,050.

for more information on the eoc

Savannah Macdonald

  • Advisor
  • Educational Opportunity Center (EOC)
  • Longview Hendrix Building (HNDRX), 200-F
Contact

Mandy Key

  • Advisor
  • Educational Opportunity Center - TRIO
  • Longview Hendrix Building (HNDRX), 200-D
Contact

Rosa Hopkins

  • Manager
  • Educational Opportunity Center, TRIO
  • Devall Student Center, Office 244
Contact