By TYLER ELLYSON
UNK Communications
KEARNEY – When Cristi EagleFeather talks about TRIO Student Support Services, she’s speaking from experience.
Not only is she an adviser for the University of Nebraska at Kearney program, but she’s also one of the many success stories.
“Honestly, if it hadn’t been for TRIO, I don’t think I would have been as successful with my undergraduate degree,” she said.
A Hastings native, EagleFeather came to UNK as a first-generation college student drawn to the close-knit campus, smaller class sizes and affordable tuition. She was ready to branch out and meet new people, fully expecting the academic aspect to come easily.
“I thought I could just continue to do what I was doing in high school, because I was an A and B honor roll kid in high school,” she said. “I thought I’d be fine, but I really wasn’t. I found that out the hard way.”
EagleFeather struggled during her first semester on campus, finishing the term with a GPA below 2.0. Then, she was referred to TRIO, which assists first-generation students, income-eligible students and those with a documented disability.
The federally funded program provides academic and personal support, financial guidance and career development opportunities for participants, helping them reach their goal of earning a college degree.
With assistance from her TRIO adviser, EagleFeather was able to rebuild her GPA. She also increased her involvement on campus, joining a number of student organizations. During her sophomore and junior years, EagleFeather served as a mentor in the TRIO program, providing another level of support for freshman participants.
Off campus, the family studies major volunteered at the S.A.F.E. Center, completed an internship through the Good Samaritan hospice program and participated in a service project in Oaxaca, Mexico.
She earned her bachelor’s degree in 2010, then completed a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling through UNK in 2014.
EagleFeather returned to her alma mater in July 2024 to work as an adviser in the TRIO program.
A helper by nature, she wants to be a guiding light for participants, someone students feel comfortable talking to and connecting with.
“I want them to know there’s always someone in their corner, a person they can come to for assistance and support when they need it,” she said.
Like EagleFeather, TRIO Student Support Services Director Rashawn Harvey participated in the program as an undergraduate student at UNK. That relatability is important, he said, because it shows students what they can accomplish.
“As a TRIO adviser, Cristi has displayed a strong desire to empower participants to go the extra mile to be successful,” Harvey said. “She dedicates time to building rapport with participants, which leads to relationships that are truthful, firm and caring.”
Currently, EagleFeather advises about 70 students, helping with everything from course selection and study habits to financial aid and personal decision-making. TRIO also works closely with other student support services in the Loper Success Hub, ensuring participants have easy access to those resources, as well.
“TRIO was such an important part of my undergraduate career, and my adviser helped me get where I am today,” EagleFeather said. “If I can be that person for somebody else, I feel like I’ve done my job.”
In addition to her role at UNK, EagleFeather is a licensed alcohol and drug counselor and licensed independent mental health practitioner. She has her own practice, EagleFeather Counseling, offering mental health therapy services and substance use and mental health evaluations.
