TRIO Talent Search Grant for SCC Cherokee County Campus
October 26, 2021
View article on GaffneyLedger.com
Today, Spartanburg Community College announced the college has been awarded a TRiO Talent Search Grant totaling $1,386,720 over the next five years. The grant will be used to operate the federally funded Talent Search Program project at the SCC Cherokee County Campus in order to facilitate outreach to middle school, high school, and alternative school students in Cherokee County and help them plan for and achieve their goals in higher education.
This is the first time SCC has received this grant funding, making it the only college in the Upstate and one of just five colleges statewide to have been awarded a TRiO Talent Search Grant.
"This is a gamechanger for Spartanburg Community College and will help us to have a crucial and dynamic impact on the future of Cherokee County," said Dr. Michael Mikota, president of SCC. "As a college, we are dedicated to improving the educational outcomes of all students and to eliminating barriers that prevent individuals from reaching their goals."
The Talent Search Program was established to offer aid to disadvantaged individuals with great potential for success in a postsecondary educational program, and provides academic, career, and financial counseling to its participants. It encourages participants to graduate from high school and successfully complete their postsecondary education.
“We are thrilled to further our partnership with SCC in order to continue driving towards our goal of ensuring every student in Cherokee County School District graduated Future Ready," said Dr. Dana Fall, superintendent of Cherokee County Schools. “This commitment on the part of SCC shows just how deeply our community shares that same vision."
Many secondary students face myriad obstacles that impede upon educational attainment, including issues with chronic absenteeism, lack of academic support, and other under-addressed academic and socio-economic problems. By utilizing the resources made available through this grant, SCC aims to address these obstacles by providing high quality tutoring services, assistance in college entrance examinations, applications, and financial aid, guidance in secondary school reentry, technology training, and many other forms of aid.
"As a lifetime Cherokee County resident, I am so excited to see yet another example of a community partnership that is focused on student success," said Mandy Painter, executive director of the SCC Cherokee County Campus. "The TRiO Talent Search grant is an amazing opportunity for Spartanburg Community College to work with Cherokee County School District to provide high quality educational experiences for students in Cherokee County."