Central College will receive five more years of funding from the U.S. Department of Education for the college’s Talent Search program. The award, contingent on annual congressional appropriations, is expected to total $2.5 million.

The nationwide Talent Search program, part of the U.S Department of Education, prepares middle school and high school students from disadvantaged backgrounds to succeed in higher education. TS has been one of the pre-college programs at Central since 1980.

The continued funding will allow the assistant director, five advisors, a recruitment specialist and an event and student record coordinator to serve a minimum of 900 students. Two-thirds of program participants must qualify as both low-income and/or potential first-generation college graduates.

The advisors meet with participating students once or twice a month in their schools. In addition to tutoring students, providing academic advising and exposing students to STEM opportunities, TS teaches financial literacy, test-taking skills and social emotional skills. Advisors also take students on college visits and to various cultural activities.