Save the Date for
2026 MKN
Annual Conference
Elevate your TRiO/GEAR UP Career – Apply for MO-KAN-NE MILE 2026
MILE (Members Involved in Leadership & Engagement) is back for 2026!
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We are building a robust and dynamic cohort of professionals - both new and seasoned - who are eager to develop leadership skills and get involved in making a difference for TRiO and GEAR UP programs at a higher level, beyond your institution.
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Why Join MILE 2026?
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MILE is an intensive professional development experience designed to rapidly accelerate your impact and career trajectory. Apply today if you are interested in:
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Network & Mentorship: Build a powerful network of relationships with TRiO/GEAR UP colleagues across your state and region who can serve as invaluable mentors as you advance your career.
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Skill Mastery: Develop high-demand, transferable skills—including effective conference organizing, strategic planning, and leadership—to significantly enhance your professional resume.
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Collective Impact: Join fellow advocates to collectively support and elevate TRiO and GEAR UP programs.
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Individuals selected for participation in MILE 2026 will agree to the following mandatory commitments:
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Attendance at four virtual half-day sessions tentatively scheduled for Friday, February 13, Friday, March 13, Friday, April 24, and Friday, November 6
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In-person attendance at pre-conference sessions during the MO-KAN-NE Annual Conference (Monday, March 30 – Tuesday, March 31) in Kansas City, MO and the EOA Annual Conference (Sunday, November - Monday, November 16) in St. Louis, MO
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Active engagement in planning, coordinating, and hosting a drive-in student event in Fall 2026
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Support of supervisor in full attendance and payment of $150 fee to offset costs of meals, lodging, and mileage allowable through MO-KAN-NE
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The application deadline is Friday, January 23, 2026!
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Don’t miss this opportunity to invest in your future and the future of TRiO/GEAR UP.
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Providing Professional Development & Resources
to its members.
MO-KAN-NE (MKN) is the 3-state chapter of the Educational Opportunity Association (EOA), one of the 10 regional associations in the U.S. that form the Council for Opportunity in Education (COE). The Council represents TRIO programs nationwide.
There are 137 TRIO programs in the MKN service region with approximately 39 million dollars going to programs that help serve over 43,000 participants.
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Become a Member Today!
What We Do
The Mission of the Missouri-Kansas-Nebraska Chapter of the Educational Opportunity Association is to:
Provide professional development and resources to its members
Provide assistance to income-eligible, first-generation, or underrepresented students, students with disabilities, and veterans in their effort to gain access to and succeed in post-secondary and graduate education;
Provide information regarding issues of equal access to higher education
Ready to find out more?
The Federal TRIO Programs are educational opportunity outreach programs designed to motivate and support students from disadvantaged backgrounds. TRIO includes eight programs targeted to serve and assist low-income individuals, first-generation college students, and individuals with disabilities to progress through the academic pipeline from middle school to postbaccalaureate programs.