TRIO grant renewals offer area residents increased educational opportunities
JOHNSON CITY (Aug. 30, 2021) — East Tennessee State University’s federal TRIO Program has been selected by the U.S. Department of Education to receive renewed funding for two of its programs, both for each of the next five years.
The Educational Talent Search Program was awarded $323,420 per year and will help middle and high school students prepare for and enter post-secondary education. In addition to current students, Talent Search also works with individuals to complete their education at the secondary or postsecondary level. Eligible students receive tutoring, career coaching, mentoring, workshops and a variety of other services. The grant will be used to assist 600 area residents, ages 11 to 27, in Hawkins, Johnson and Sullivan counties.
“The East Tennessee State University Talent Search program has worked with our target middle and high schools and students for over 20 years and plans to continue to build upon and enhance the relationships and pre-college services that we have developed and offer to our participants,” said Dr. Ronnie Gross, director of ETSU’s TRIO Programs. “The target school principals, guidance counselors and faculty are true partners in the success of the program and the participants. Seeing students not only enroll in postsecondary education, but graduate is our ultimate success story.”
Additionally, the Educational Opportunity Center (EOC) was awarded $273,793 per year and will assist 1,000 adults in obtaining their high school equivalency diplomas and college or vocational school enrollment. EOC serves the counties of Carter, Greene, Hawkins, Johnson, Sullivan, Unicoi or Washington and assists anyone who does not already have a four-year degree with determination of educational goals, academic assistance, completion of college admission and financial aid applications, college adjustment concerns and career exploration.
“The Educational Opportunity Center project and staff are looking forward to five more years of working with all of the local schools, community agencies and organizations and serving the communities of Northeast Tennessee,” Gross said. “During the past almost 20 years, the program has assisted thousands of adults with the enrollment and financial aid process to help them enroll in postsecondary education at the school of their choice and achieve the dream of a college diploma. With many years of knowledge and experience, the staff welcome the opportunities that a new grant provides to help many more adults achieve their goals.”
TRIO is a federal outreach and student services program designed to identify and provide services for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds. It includes eight programs targeted to serve and assist low-income individuals, first-generation college students, and individuals with disabilities to progress through the academic pipeline from middle school to postbaccalaureate programs. Objectives and activities include academic and career advising, college awareness, reentry assistance, parental involvement, technology access, career fairs and other activities. TRIO also includes a training program for directors and staff of TRIO projects.
Established nationally in 1965 to assist eligible students in successfully completing a college degree by helping them overcome class, social and cultural barriers to higher education, the program provides academic, career and financial counseling to participants and encourages them to graduate from high school and continue to postsecondary education.
For more information, call 423-439-4002, email grossrd@etsu.edu or visit etsu.edu/academicaffairs/trio/.