Anthony (Tony) Dean

I was an only child until my mother married in 1991; my sisters were born in 1992 and 1993. My mother and step-father worked long hours, while battling alcoholism and substance abuse. I was largely responsible for raising my sisters from the time they were toddlers until I petitioned for and was granted joint custody of them with my aunt being the guardian ad litem. I was only 17 when I petitioned for custody of my sisters so I was required to emancipate myself as an adult.

As a freshman at Central High school in St. Paul MN in 1997 My English teacher Mr. King nominated me as a student that would benefit from TRiO Upward Bound. The director of St. Olaf's TRiO Upward Bound program, Heather Campbell and her staff identified that my essential, most fundamental need was someone to hold me academically accountable. I excelled as a student when I applied myself but because of my family situation and the lack of parental supervision, the Upward Bound staff provided the foundation for me to be held accountable academically. Upward Bound without a doubt provided me with the skills and knowledge to navigate in college life and be successful in my education.

I graduated from Central High school in St. Paul in 2001 and enrolled in college. After two semesters I was placed on academic probation. I was academically ready but not personally mature enough to hold myself accountable to do the work required. Faced with being unsuccessful in my first college experience I left college and worked full-time in the restaurant industry for a year. I made decent money but had a strong feeling that I needed to be back in school and make good on the opportunity that Upward Bound had provided to me. In 2003 I enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. While on active duty as a Marine I was stationed in California, North Carolina, Japan, Texas, Missouri, and New Orleans. I enrolled at the University of Maryland (South East Asia Campus) while stationed in Japan and completed 16 credits. I returned to the US, while in New Orleans. I enrolled in school and completed 2 weeks of classes when hurricane Katrina hit. My unit was evacuated to Texas and then Missouri until we returned to New Orleans five months later.

I was Honorably Discharged from active duty and began school in July of 2007 at Normandale Community College; I transferred in 30 credits which I had completed while with the Marines. I enrolled in school fulltime using my G.I. BILL; I completed a total of 120 credits and received the Associates of Arts, and Associates of Science in Law Enforcement. I completed the Center for Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement's Licensing Program and I passed the P.O.S.T. test to make me eligible for Licensing as a Minnesota Peace Officer. I am currently employed by the Ramsey County Sheriff's Department.

I will continue my education while working full-time with Ramsey County. I have eight classes to complete to earn my Bachelors of Liberal Arts from Metropolitan State University with the focus on Community Leadership/Representation. Once I have completed my Bachelors I will apply to Law School.

Without TRiO Upward Bound investing in my future I would not be where I am today. I am living proof that MN TRIO programs supplement the abilities of students and provide the resources and opportunities essential for students that face adversity in their lives and family environments. I have and will continue to look for any opportunity to invest my time in energy in the students served by MN TRIO programs and encourage my fellow Alumni and the people of MN to do the same.