Double Discovery Center Director Olger Twyner III looks on as a student writes about the center's importance.

Fifty Double Discovery high school students sacrificed a Saturday to tell Senators Hillary Clinton, Chuck Schumer and Congressman Charles Rangel in an email the impact that the Columbia academic enrichment program has had on their lives.

Hosted in the 3rd floor wireless classrooms of Hamilton, where after school DDC mentoring is now held, the letter writing session was Columbia's effort to use new technology as it raises national awareness of Trio Programs.

"While in this new administration a lot of attention has been paid to the importance of education, we felt that our local and state representatives should know from the students themselves the importance that the DDC, a federally-funded TRIO program, has had for them," said Olger Twyner III, director of the Double Discovery Center.

Approximately 1,000 students from New York City schools, many who are first generation college-bound, annually participate in DDC programs. On average, ninety-four percent of those students graduate high school and go on to college. The personal testimonies of empowered students sent a clear message to governmental leaders.

"It is programs like these that first tap into young lives and begin opening doors. It is my sincere belief that DDC is a program that must continue to thrive in the community," wrote a recent DDC grad who holds a 4-year scholarship at Vanderbilt University.

The exercise made full use of 21 newly acquired Apple i-books, a donation which, coupled with the wireless lab and the recent expansion of wireless connectivity throughout campus, has made mobile computer access an integral part of the Double Discovery's offerings to area students.

Trio programs, including Upward Bound and Talent Search, two programs administered through Double Discovery, are designed to identify promising students, prepare them to do college level work, strengthen their performance in math and science, provide tutoring and support services to students once they reach campus and provide information on academic and financial aid opportunities. Currently, over 2,000 projects are hosted at over 1,200 post secondary institutions and more than one hundred community agencies nation wide. Columbia's Double Discovery Center, a TRIO-funded program begun by Columbia College students, has supported the community through academic programming for high school and junior high students from Upper Manhattan schools, including Harlem and Washington Heights for 36 years.

The Saturday Trio event and the equipment that made it possible is a result of the support of the Columbia College Dean's Office, the Bain Capital Children's Charities and Goldman Sachs.