Highlands College student connects with campus resources, community to overcome adversity

To say Luke Martin’s start at Highlands College was rough, and required a lot of Oredigger grit to overcome, would probably be an understatement. He arrived on campus two weeks late, with plans to take a hefty 16-credit-hour course load, but no idea how to execute his financial aid award.

Without a car, he explored the public transportation options but ultimately found a solution with a local bike shop. His determination led to a successful negotiation, securing a BMX bike within the few dollars he had in his pocket.

“I was pedaling roughly six miles a day,” Martin said. “I rode that bike for probably a month and a half. Then winter rolled around, and my eyes were freezing in the wind while riding, so I couldn't deal with it anymore.”

Eventually Martin got a working vehicle to get to campus. It was a tough time, but this wasn’t Martin’s first battle against adversity. As a child, he was separated from his sister, who was six years older, due to his mother having mental health and substance abuse issues. He was adopted by his grandparents who lived in Washington at the time. Eventually, the family moved to Cypress, Texas, an hour north of Houston, where he planned to attend community college until a visit to Montana. During a trip to see his sister, his brother-in-law gave him a tour of Butte and the Montana Tech campus. The Butte-Anaconda Historic District, a National Historic Landmark, caught his attention.

“That's part of the reason why I fell in love with Butte. Butte has a story that’s super cool,” Martin said.

Martin had done well in high school, where he was a member of the varsity swim team and qualified for advanced classes.

“I was very ambitious, because I never had any issues in high school. So, I felt like I had a good edge,” he said.

But when he got to Butte, he found that college was completely different.

“There's no one holding you to a standard,” Martin said. “You have to hold yourself to a standard. That was a big adjustment because in high school, your teachers are always reminding you, ‘Can't you get this in? You haven't filled it in.’ But in college, they just tell you that this is the due date. Then next week we're already talking about a new assignment.”

Martin ended up on academic probation and was a bit depressed after his second semester. He had high expectations for himself.

“I'm very determined,” Martin said. “I have a lot on my shoulders. I'm the first in my family to go to college. I don’t want to fail.”

Martin ended up back on track by connecting with campus resources and integrating into the community.

After changing his major to Associate of Science and connecting with Associate Dean of Students & Executive Director of Student Success Sarah North Wolfe things changed.

“She helped turn it around,” Martin said.

North Wolfe recommended that Martin enroll in the TRIO Student Support Services STEM program. TRIO is a federally funded program designed to serve first-generation, income eligible, and students with disabilities. The program provides opportunities in academic development, financial literacy, career awareness, and other college requirements. TRIO Student Support Services STEM serves to motivate students towards the successful completion of their post-secondary education.

As part of the program, Martin receives additional one-on-one advising from Director of TRIO Student Support Services Carissa Johnson. Johnson’s help was invaluable to Martin.

“For my financial aid, I had a lot of issues at the start of the semester, and Sarah and Carissa were both extremely helpful in figuring all of that out and giving me advice on what I need to get done,” Martin said.

Johnson also connected Martin with a scholarship available exclusively to TRIO participants. Martin was able to access tutor resources that helped him raise his grades. Martin implemented a new study schedule, incorporating more group study sessions. ‘‘I stayed committed to attending tutoring which dramatically improved my understanding of complex subjects. As a result, I was able to bring up my term GPA from a 1.8 to a 2.6.”

Martin also found a local church community that helped him re-charge his spirit.

“During the biggest struggles of my life, the one place I always felt safe was at church,” Martin said. "Having the close connection with God and Jesus Christ has been a very big thing.”

Martin’s now on the path to graduation, with an ultimate goal to become a physical therapist. In addition to getting his feet under him at college, he was recently promoted to night manager at Taco Del Sol. While more challenges in his personal life have arisen, Martin is confident he’ll cross the graduation stage.

In addition to his supportive family, he’s got a few folks on campus he’s thankful to for helping him figure things out.

“Specifically, the financial aid staff, and that entire group, they've been super, super helpful and really, really nice,” Martin said. “I remember my first semester, they helped me with so many things. I ended up bringing them cookies.”

The Academic Center for Excellence (ACE) also gets a rave review from Martin.

“ACE has been one of the biggest resources for me,” Martin said. “If I'm ever behind on anything, I can literally just go to an ACE office, put my head down for a couple hours, and I know that there's a tutor there or someone who's sitting there that's willing to help.”

Martin’s biggest piece of advice to students is to connect with others on campus.

“Make friends in your classes,” Martin said. “Meet with your advisors because your advisor is crucial to understanding your campus. Just being able to get around and have people that you know are able to be there for you, and willing to help you is awesome.”

Montana Tech would like to connect more students with TRIO Student Support Services. Students can apply to the program here. The program offers the following services:

• One-on-one individualized academic success coaching
• Orientation for incoming freshmen
• Guidance in academic, personal, and career goals
• Tutoring and study groups
• Assistance in graduate school applications
• Student Success Workshops
• STEM field trips and leadership conferences
• Graduate school tours and preparation
• Scholarship assistance

To qualify, students must be pursuing a four-year STEM degree, first-generation (neither parent has received a bachelor’s degree), income-eligible, or have a documented disability. Due to federal guidelines, TRIO Student Support Services cannot work with international students, or students who already have obtained a bachelor’s degree. For more information, reach out to Johnson at cjohnson25@mtech.edu or 406-496-4289.