Wallace-Sparks Campus awarded grant for Talent Search Project

Matt Boster

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Posted by: Matt Boster
Date: Sep 13 2016 6:52 PM

Eufaula, Ala. – The U.S. Department of Education recently awarded a five-year $1,399,200 grant to Wallace Community College–Sparks Campus to continue the Talent Search project, part of the federally funded TRiO program. TRiO offers outreach and support services to qualified students to help them succeed in secondary and post-secondary education.  

Talent Search identifies and assists individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds who have the potential to succeed in higher education.  The program provides academic, career and financial advising to its participants and encourages them to graduate from high school and the college of their choice.

According to Tameka Owolabi, WCC Talent Search director, 100% of the total cost of the program for the 2016-17 academic year, or $279,840, has been allocated for use by the Sparks Campus. Funding is available to serve 583 participants who are enrolled from seven area schools, including Abbeville Elementary School, Admiral Moorer Middle School, Barbour County Intermediate School, Abbeville High School, Barbour County High School, Eufaula High School and Russell County High School.

Services include student success workshops, career exploration, mentoring, college entrance test preparation, tutorial services, exposure to college campuses and cultural enrichment activities.  The program staff also offer assistance in completing college admissions and financial aid applications.

For more information about Talent Search, call the Wallace Community College Sparks Campus at 334-687-3543, ext. 4280, or visit the College’s Web site at www.wallace.edu.

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