TRIO - Educational Talent Search

Talent Search is a free college access program funded by the U.S. Department of Education and is offered to 6th-12th grade students in the following school districts: Hinton, Le Mars, Lawton-Bronson, River Valley, MVAOCOU, MMCRU, OABCIG, Denison, AR-WE-VA, Westwood, Whiting, West Monona, Cherokee, Boyer Valley, IKMM and Sgt. Bluff. Students meet with a Talent Search Educational Coordinator each month to complete academic sessions with topics including: 

• Academic advising
• Career search and exploration
• Financial aid assistance
• Individual mentoring
• Tutoring services
• Test prep
• Social skills

Eligibility Requirements

To participate in the Talent Search Program, students must meet the following criteria: 

• Enrolled in the 6th-12th grade at one of our service schools. Eighth grade students may apply during the spring semester before prior their freshman year of high school.
• Are first generation college-bound (neither parent has earned a four-year college degree).
• Meet the US Department of Education income guidelines.
• Have a minimum 2.5 GPA.

Funding Sources

The TRIO Talent Search program is federally funded by the United States Department of Education in the amount of $382,907 per year for a period of five years (September 1, 2021 - August 31, 2026) and serves 777 students in the following school districts: OABCIG, Cherokee, MMC-RU, River Valley, Hinton, Lawton-Bronson, Le Mars, Sgt. Bluff-Luton, Westwood, Whiting, West Monona, AR-WE-VA, Boyer Valley, Denison, IKM-Manning, MVAOCOU.