{"id":14612,"date":"2026-07-22T09:00:40","date_gmt":"2026-07-22T14:00:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/now\/?p=14612"},"modified":"2026-07-21T16:35:13","modified_gmt":"2026-07-21T21:35:13","slug":"summer-bridge-builds-success","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/now\/2026\/07\/22\/summer-bridge-builds-success\/","title":{"rendered":"Summer Bridge builds success"},"content":{"rendered":"

On July 16, TRIO\/Student Support Services celebrated the conclusion of the 2026 Summer Bridge program. During this four-week campus living experience, students earn early college credit in two classes and tackle academic workshops to smooth their transition to college. Built for driven, first-generation students, low-income students or students with disabilities, the program offers a tight-knit community and supportive guidance that lasts throughout their time at Augsburg.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A commitment from Augsburg is one reason Summer Bridge has existed for over 20 years.<\/span><\/p>\n

Kevin Cheatham \u201907 MAL<\/b>, director of TRIO\/Student Support Services, and <\/span>Xia Xiong-Vang \u201905<\/b>, assistant director, call the Summer Bridge program Augsburg\u2019s best-kept secret. They said that while many colleges host federal TRIO programs, Augsburg uniquely integrates its TRIO\/Student Support Services into the institution’s fabric. Peer TRIO programs across the country frequently praise the mere existence of Augsburg’s Summer Bridge program. Ultimately, extensive cross-departmental support and a strong financial commitment from Augsburg, along with additional funding from the Department of Education, allow it to thrive, making replication nearly impossible for other schools.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Peer Mentors, Paw Htoo \u201928 and Ayriana Vue \u201929<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cIt was really scary coming to college,\u201d said <\/span>Ayriana Vue \u201929<\/b>, who participated in Summer Bridge in 2025 and returned this summer as a peer mentor. \u201cI had never been on a campus before; I generally get lost easily; and I didn\u2019t know what to expect. Everything felt so unknown after high school. But thanks to Summer Bridge, I felt more confident about coming to Augsburg. Being on campus in a smaller group and meeting other students helped me feel more comfortable when I started school in the fall. And I met two of my best friends at Summer Bridge.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI wasn\u2019t the most outgoing person, so if it wasn\u2019t for the Summer Bridge program, I wouldn\u2019t have gotten to know as many people and resources,\u201d <\/span>Paw Htoo \u201928, <\/b>another peer mentor who was part of the 2024 Summer Bridge cohort, added. \u201cIt allowed me to explore\u2014not just Augsburg, but the city and the community around it. We got early access to resources, and it opened my eyes to know and understand what is available to me as a student\u2014like the Strommen Center and the Multicultural Life office. I may not have used the services right away, but I knew where to go when I needed them. It made being at Augsburg easier.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The program introduces students to Augsburg and its resources while teaching them essential life skills, like riding the light rail and exploring the surrounding Cedar-Riverside neighborhood. Above all, Summer Bridge builds confidence. It empowers students to envision their own college potential, challenging them to reflect on their personal motivations, advocate for themselves, and seek out help when needed. Within four weeks, they truly become Auggies.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n