TRIO

Talent Search

MTC TRIO Site

Sponsoring Agency:

• Department of Education (DOE)
• Grant Timeline: 10/1/21 – 9/30/26
• Funding: $1,409,065

The TRIO Talent Search Program, funded by the U.S. Department of Education, is a federal outreach initiative designed to identify and support students from disadvantaged backgrounds who have the potential to succeed in higher education. As part of the broader TRIO programs, Talent Search focuses on increasing the number of students who complete high school and enroll in and graduate from postsecondary education.

Through the Talent Search grant, institutions provide comprehensive academic, career, and financial counseling to middle school, high school, and select adult participants. Services often include tutoring, college and career exploration, financial aid guidance, assistance with college admissions and FAFSA completion, mentoring, and exposure to college campuses.

The program emphasizes early intervention and sustained support, helping students build the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to successfully transition to and complete postsecondary education. Our Talent Search grant reflects our commitment to expanding college access, supporting first-generation and low-income students, and strengthening educational attainment within our region.

Project Objectives:

Marion Technical College's Talent Search program provides academic counseling, college visit opportunities, FAFSA assistance, and mentoring to middle and high school students in our region

• Support students in staying on track academically, with a goal of more than 80% of participants continuing to the next grade level each year.
• Help seniors successfully complete high school, with a target graduation rate of over 94% among program participants.
• Ensure graduates are college-ready, guiding participants through a rigorous secondary curriculum that prepares them for postsecondary success.
• Connect graduating seniors to higher education, with a goal of more than half enrolling in a college or university in the fall immediately following high school graduation.
• Support long-term degree completion, with a target of more than one in four participants completing a postsecondary program within six years of high school graduation.