MWCC Receives $2.7 Million in Talent Search Grants for College Access Programs

Mount Wachusett Community College has been awarded two five-year TRiO Talent Search grants from the U.S. Department of Education totaling $2.7 million. The projects will prepare 1,195 middle and high school students in north central Massachusetts for secondary school graduation and post-secondary enrollment. Two-thirds of students will be from low-income and potential first generation college families.

Beginning this fall semester, the college will receive $1,150,000 over the next five years - $230,000 per year to launch a new Talent Search program to serve 500 students annually in the Athol, Mahar and Murdock school districts, and the North Central Charter Essential School in Fitchburg. Additionally, MWCC received continuation funding for its existing Talent Search program. This program is entering its 21st year and will receive $1,656,805 - $319,768 in the first year and $309,855 in years two through five - to serve 695 student annually in Leominster, Fitchburg and Gardner.

"Expanding access to higher education, focusing on college completion and preparing an educated workforce with advanced skills to enable business and industry to compete in a global market are paramount to a fully recovered economy for the U.S. and for Massachusetts," said MWCC President Daniel M. Asquino. "Community colleges play a vital role in our nation's economy, and we are grateful for our Congressional delegation's continued support of students who benefit from these TRiO programs," he said.

"These two federal TRiO grants will serve nearly 1,200 students in seven area school districts, providing them with the support needed to be successful in middle school and high school, and ready to meet the challenges and opportunities of post-secondary education," said Rebeccah Sonn, assistant dean of Access & Transition at MWCC. "MWCC will be these students' first expose to college, as they are prepared through Talent Search programming for the possibilities of post-secondary educations." 

Talent Search begins reaching out to students in the sixth grade, preparing participants to choose and succeed in a pre-college curriculum; receive help with academic weaknesses before their important high school years; and explore careers and the higher education required to enter those careers. Middle school participants receive a parent/guardian orientation; referrals to high quality tutoring; grade specific course advising workshops; an early college preparation program; success skills workshops; STEM career fair and after school career awareness program; computer instruction program; and social/cultural enrichment trips.
 
As participants reach high school, the Talent Search program provides them with expanded depth, breadth, and range of services. All high school participants receive a parent/guardian orientation and follow-up meetings; drop-in academic tutoring and referrals; secondary school course selection advising; personal and career counseling; guidance and assistance in secondary school re-entry, alternative education programs, and GED; in-school workshops; parent/guardian workshops; college tours; e-mentoring; and social/cultural enrichment opportunities and trips. Freshmen and sophomores also have access to state mandated test preparation and a career fair. Juniors and seniors have access to SAT and ACT preparation, Accuplacer preparation; dual enrollment courses; advanced placement exam preparation; a college fair; college admissions assistance; financial aid assistance; and postsecondary course selection advising.     

- Heather Layton