SCC Awarded $1.325 Million to Continue TRIO Talent Search Program in Cherokee County

Spartanburg Community College Awarded $1.325 Million to Continue TRIO Talent Search Program in Cherokee County

SPARTANBURG, SC — Spartanburg Community College (SCC) has been awarded a five-year federal grant totaling $1.325 million to continue its TRIO Talent Search program in Cherokee County. The renewed funding, totaling $265,000 annually for five years, will allow SCC to build on the work that began with its initial Talent Search grant in 2021 while continuing to prepare students to be postsecondary, workforce, or career-ready.

The renewal allows SCC to continue building on five years of work with Cherokee County students and families, helping participants identify educational and career opportunities, navigate postsecondary pathways, and develop the skills and confidence needed to pursue college, workforce training, or career opportunities after high school.

“This five-year renewal represents a continued investment in the promise and potential of Cherokee County students,” said Dr. Michael Mikota, President of Spartanburg Community College. "Through Talent Search, students gain the guidance, experiences, and confidence to pursue college, workforce training, and meaningful careers. We are proud to continue this important partnership with Cherokee County School District as we expand opportunity and strengthen the educational and economic future of the communities we serve.”

Through SCC’s TRIO Talent Search program, eligible middle and high school students in Cherokee County receive access to services designed to encourage high school completion and postsecondary enrollment. Programming includes academic and career exploration, college campus visits, financial aid and admissions assistance, educational workshops, ACT & SAT fee waivers, summer enrichment opportunities, and other resources that help students prepare for life after high school.

Five Years of Impact in Cherokee County

Over the past five years, SCC’s Talent Search program has served 553 students across five Cherokee County schools, providing students with resources, experiences, and support to help them prepare for success beyond high school. During that time, students have participated in more than 30 college tours, giving them firsthand exposure to a variety of postsecondary environments and opportunities.

Talent Search has provided students with educational, career, leadership, and personal development opportunities designed to prepare them for success beyond high school. These experiences have included an etiquette luncheon for eighth-grade students focused on building confidence and strengthening professional and interpersonal skills, as well as participation in the Wanda Hendricks Bellamy Student Leadership Conference in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, with selected students taking part in the conference’s Emerging Leaders Track. Students have also participated in educational workshops, summer enrichment programming, and career exploration activities focused on preparing them to be postsecondary, workforce, or career-ready.

Community partnerships have also played an important role in expanding the experiences available to Talent Search students. Summer enrichment programming has included partnerships with Dr. Brandon J. Watkins, Director of Teaching Fellows and Instructor of Education Foundations at the University of South Carolina Upstate, and Sherrian Camp, Electrical Engineering Supervisor II at Freightliner Custom Chassis, along with organizations and community partners such as Noble Sheep and Acing The Undergrad. These collaborations have provided students with additional mentorship, exposure, and opportunities for academic preparation, personal growth, and career exploration.

"Cherokee County School District is honored to continue its work in partnership with Spartanburg Community College and the TRIO Talent Search Grant in providing educational opportunities that promote a college-going culture to our students. The Talent Search Grant's promotion of college access through campus tours and enrichment camps offers CCSD students a dynamic glimpse of potential collegiate experiences. The grant supports learners as they work toward college and career readiness, including the submission of college applications, self-discipline and development courses, and workshops for financial aid and study skills; each of these strengthen our students and their promise for success and achievement. CCSD is proud to be a part of work that is dedicated to elevating our students in their commitment toward being 'one degree better’," said Dr. Raashad Fitzpatrick, Superintendent of Cherokee County School District.

The new five-year award will allow SCC to build on that momentum, creating additional opportunities for Cherokee County students to explore college, workforce training, and career pathways that lead to long-term success.

 

“It is amazing to be able to continue the work we have been doing in our community over the last five years,” said Irran J. Duncan, Director of TRIO Programs at Spartanburg Community College. “This Talent Search grant renewal allows us to build on the relationships we have established with students, families, schools, and community partners while continuing to help students see that higher education is within their reach. I am extremely proud of the impact our team has made, and I am even more excited about what the next five years will bring. At the end of the day, this work is about creating opportunities, removing barriers, and helping students believe in what is possible for their future.”

Talent Search is one of the federal TRIO programs administered by the U.S. Department of Education, designed to help students prepare for successful futures beyond high school. Through academic, career, and financial guidance, the program connects students with resources and experiences that support high school completion and help them become postsecondary, workforce, or career-ready.

With the renewed funding, SCC will continue serving Cherokee County students over the next five years, reinforcing the College’s commitment to expanding access to educational and career opportunities and helping students build pathways to successful futures.

 

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