$1.4 million grant to fund first-generation program

The University of North Georgia (UNG) was awarded nearly $1.4 million over five years to launch the Talent Search Program, a federally funded TRIO program.

The U.S. Department of Education (DOE) launched the TRIO program in the 1960s based on a trio or three programs: Upward Bound, Talent Search and Student Support Services. All were designed to assist eligible students to begin and complete a post-secondary education. Now, seven programs are categorized as TRIO programs.

Currently, the university has two successful TRIO programs: Upward Bound and Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program. Both help first-generation and low-income students reach their higher education goals. UNG is implementing Talent Search this fall.

The newest program will focus on identifying and assisting middle and high school students from disadvantaged backgrounds who have the potential to succeed in higher education, according to the DOE website. Students will receive academic, career and financial counseling to help them graduate from high school and continue onto and complete college.

"The goal is to get a greater number of first-generation students from disadvantaged backgrounds to finish high school and complete a post-secondary education," Sandy Ott, executive director of UNG's Blue Ridge Campus and the grant's principal investigator, said. "And Talent Search seeks out students who are motivated to excel in their education."

UNG aims to enlist 500 students each year for five years, with half from a middle school and the rest from a high school. Dr. Latrice Richardson, director of access and pre-college programs at UNG, said Gainesville City Schools will partner with UNG on the program.

"After we started Upward Bound at Johnson and Gilmer high schools, Gainesville City Schools asked about implementing a similar program," she said. "When Talent Search's application opened, we started working on it."

Richardson and Ott learned UNG's application was approved shortly before Oct. 1, when the money is granted. Richardson said the grant will help spread information to middle and high school students about college admissions requirements. Students will also have access to resources such as dropout prevention, college and financial aid awareness, study skills, test-taking preparation, financial literacy, college and scholarship application assistance, dual-enrollment education, service-learning opportunities, and more.

"The program is broken down with specific topics for each grade year," Ott said.

Once the program launches at both schools, UNG's goals will be to sustain and grow the program.

"We want to create opportunities for the most marginalized students among us," Richardson said. "And UNG is serious about making college more accessible to all in the north Georgia region."