PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Jeff Weaver, Melony Ritter
(501) 760.6410 office
press@np.edu
July 20, 2016
NPC TALENT SEARCH GRANT RENEWED FOR FIVE YEARS
Hot Springs, Arkansas – The National Park College (NPC) Talent Search program received a grant renewal for an additional five years. The total grant award is $1,399,200.00.
NPC’s Talent Search program began in 1998 and serves six area public school districts, including, Lake Hamilton, Fountain Lake, Mountain Pine, Cutter Morning Star, Jessieville, and Hot Springs. The project is designed to meet four objectives, including identifying students with potential to attend college; encouraging students to complete high school and enter into a college program of study; and publicizing the availability of student financial assistance to students who pursue a college program of study.
The program provides connections to high quality academic tutoring, assistance in high school course selection, completion of admissions and financial aid applications, guidance in high school or college re-entry, financial literacy sessions, career, personal and academic advising, cultural and college visitation trips, mentoring, and summer activities.
NPC’s Talent Search program has seen high levels of success. 100 percent of NPC Talent Search students persisted to the next grade. Likewise, 100 percent of high school seniors participating in the program graduated from high school and 80 percent enrolled in postsecondary education.
Talent Search Director, Diane Meredith said, “I was thrilled to find out our TRIO Educational Talent Search proposal was renewed and funded for an additional five years. We are so very excited to have the opportunity to continue serving students in our public schools. Over the next five years, not only will we continue to prepare students for postsecondary education, we will also implement a mentoring and tutoring element for the 583 students we serve. It’s an exciting time to be part of the Talent Search program.”
About Talent Search
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 assists participant with the postsecondary application process. The goal of Talent Search is to increase the number of youth from disadvantaged backgrounds who complete high school and enroll in and complete their postsecondary education.
