EOPS History
The Story Behind the Nickel and the Nails
The Nickel and the Nails are fitting symbols for the Extended Opportunity Program and Services. Why a nickel and nail? As the story goes, a young man in the deep South was walking down a dirt road on the way to visit his lady friend, dejected by the fact that the nickel in his pocket was all he had to his name. But as he walked, he noticed two old horseshoe nails, twisted together into a knot, by the side of the road. He picked them up and put them in his pocket, thereby quickly gaining a little pride and dignity by having "something to jingle."
EOPS makes educational success more possible and education more accessible while encouraging a strong sense of pride and dignity, increasing students' self-esteem and motivation.