Cal Poly’s Education Talent Search program given new 5-year federal grant
The program will help hundreds of locals students
–California Polytechnic State University’s (Cal Poly) Educational Talent Search (ETS) program recently received a new five-year federal grant that will serve 500 local junior high and high school students per year.
The federally funded pre-college program supports students in grades 6-12 in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties who want to pursue higher education at a community college or university with counseling, as well as provides information about college admission requirements, scholarships, college entrance exams, and more.
All told, the five-year grant will award $277,375 to the program on an annual basis through 2026.
“I’m continually amazed at the selfless work of our program staff to help local students achieve their dream of going to college,” said Keith Humphrey, Cal Poly’s vice president for student affairs. “This new five-year grant is proof of their dedication to support these students and validates our collective commitment to social justice, diversity and equity. I’m thrilled that we will be able to positively impact even more students in the years to come.”
The program offers a wide variety of educational resources for local students and families, including workshops and counseling on:
– Preparing for the SAT and ACT;
– Completing A-G course requirements for college;
– Understanding the college systems;
– Choosing a major;
– Exploring careers;
– Completing college applications;
– Applying for financial aid and scholarships
“Our ETS staff are continually inspired by the students they serve,” said Debi Hill, Cal Poly’s associate vice president for student affairs — equity and transition. “The students’ enthusiasm and desire to attend college motivates our staff to build connections and help them envision a bright future, which includes attaining a college degree.”
In addition, the program hosts field trips to visit California universities throughout the academic year. This includes California State University and University of California campuses, private institutionsa and community colleges. All services provided by ETS are free to participating students.
For more information on Educational Talent Search, visit the site.
