Talent Search Program at Tri-County
Receives $312,203 Federal Grant

CONTACT: ELAINE SCOTT-MATTISON, EXT. 2239

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 8/31/2000
(By Lisa Garrett)

PENDLETON - For the 20th consecutive year, the U.S. Department of Education has awarded Tri-County Technical College funding for an outreach program designed to give students the skills needed to succeed in college.

Tri-County received $312,203 for its Educational Talent Search program, which provides tutorial, study skills, cultural, and motivational services for students in middle and high schools who meet eligibility requirements. All funds were awarded through a competitive discretionary grant process.

Talent Search is one of three TRIO programs designed to help students to overcome academic, social, class and cultural barriers to higher education.

The program works with schools and community agencies in the tri-county area and offers a variety of services to help students enter post-secondary institutions. The program offers such services as small group tutoring, academic, career and personal counseling, interest tests, SAT workshops, college tours and study skills classes. Students also get help in completing and submitting college admissions and financial aid applications.

Another feature is ongoing tutoring during the school year for middle school students. A summer component workshop for both high school and sixth, seventh and eighth graders offers an introduction to personal computers.

According to TRIO Director Elaine Scott-Mattison, during its 20 years of funding, Talent Search has served nearly 11,000 secondary students in the three-county area. Funding for the coming year will provide services to approximately 650 students.

For more information about Talent Search, contact Elaine Scott-Mattison at Ext. 2239 at one of these numbers: Anderson County - 225-2250; Oconee County - 882-4412; Pickens County - 859-7033; or Clemson/Pendleton/Anderson - 646-8361. Persons who are deaf, hard of hearing or speech disabled should call TDD/VOICE 1-800-735-2905.

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