MANCHESTER, N.H. —

New Hampshire students and educators are calling for the restoration of federal funds to help disadvantaged people go to college.

Nick Mixon, of Rochester, had tears in his eyes Tuesday as he described the impact the federally funded TRIO program has had on his life.

"I'm 27. I'm a nontraditional student at this point, but the only people who've ever helped me were these people," Mixon said. "I didn't even know they existed until I got to (the University of New Hampshire)."

TRIO and the GEAR UP program are designed to help low-income and disadvantaged students get to college, stay there and be successful, which can be a major challenge for students who are the first in their families to seek higher education.

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