CSU-Pueblo awarded five-year, $1.2 million Talent Search grant

PUEBLO - Colorado State University-Pueblo has been awarded a five-year, $1.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to fund Talent Search as part of its TRiO programs, beginning Sept. 1. Talent Search will help up to 500 middle and high school students annually at three Pueblo high schools and three Pueblo middle schools with career exploration and secondary school success initiatives as well as transition into post-secondary education. The program will be one of just five in the state, including CSU-Fort Collins, Fort Lewis College, the Denver Scholarship Fund, and the Greeley Dream Team.

The Talent Search program identifies and assists individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds who have the potential to succeed in higher education. The program provides academic, career, and financial counseling to its participants and encourages them to graduate from high school and continue on to and complete their postsecondary education. The program publicizes the availability of financial aid and helps participants with the postsecondary application process.

Students must be between the ages of 11 and 27 and have completed the fifth grade. In any given project, two-thirds of the participants must be students who are low-income and potential first-generation college students.

Talent Search also encourages persons who have not completed education programs at the secondary or postsecondary level to enter or reenter and complete postsecondary education. Talent Search aims to increase the number of youth from disadvantaged backgrounds who complete high school and enroll in and complete their postsecondary education.

Pueblo schools included in this grant will be Central, East, and South high schools, and Risley International Academy of Innovation, Roncalli STEM Academy, and Pueblo Academy of Arts (formerly Pitts Middle School).The program also will complement the work in progress through the University's Upward Bound program.

"The program will help to strengthen CSU-Pueblo's ties to the Pueblo community and to further demonstrate CSU-Pueblo's leadership and commitment to providing equal access to higher education," said Michael Manos, executive director of CSU-Pueblo's TRiO program.

Manos said the program also strives to increase college retention and graduation rates through its mentoring and tutoring efforts. As the host institution of the grant, CSU-Pueblo has the opportunity to showcase its programs and build connections with middle and high schools. However, the focus of the new program is increasing the pool of qualified college applicants for any institution from local schools.

Colorado State University - Pueblo is a regional, comprehensive university emphasizing professional, career-oriented, and applied programs. Displaying excellence in teaching, celebrating diversity, and engaging in service and outreach, CSU-Pueblo is distinguished by access, opportunity, and the overall quality of services provided to its students.