Mason Galemore
Contributing Writer
mgalemore@murraystate.edu
The U.S. Department of Education announced the TRIO Talent Search Program at Murray State would receive $554,750 to help lower income students.
Talent Search, which has operated at Murray since 2016, helps lower-income first generation students prepare for college. The program is one of eight TRIO programs.
The grants will be evenly divided among Talent Search East and Talent Search West. Talent Search East assists 500 students in the Christian, Todd and Trigg county school districts.
Talent Search West will assist 500 students in Carlisle County, Fulton County, Hickman County, Mayfield, Mayfield Independent and Paducah school districts.
“Our goal is to help students develop academically, socially and emotionally in order to be prepared for postsecondary education,” said Talent Search Director Audrey Neal. “We assist them with the process of entering postsecondary education and successfully graduating.”
The money pays for program staff, services, resources and supplies to help operate Talent Search, Neal said.
The majority of students who apply for aid from Talent Search attend college after high school. In 2020, more than 309,000 students were enrolled in Talent Search Programs across the United States.
Students and their families must be at least 150% below the poverty level to be eligible for TRIO aid, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
“The Talent Search Grant serves more students and a larger program area than other programs due to the nature of the program,” Murray State TRIO Director Melissa Cooper said.
The money Talent Search has received, Cooper says, will help encourage students to reach out. She said that more relationships can be made with participants.
One student at Murray State who received help from Talent Search is senior agricultural science major Alexandria Riddle.
“I went through quite a few financial hardships growing up,” Riddle said. “I didn’t have very much, and programs like TRIO helped me to be where I am today.”
Riddle says she plans to graduate in December. When she graduates, she will be the first member in her family to receive a college education.
Riddle attended the TRIO ACT Boot Camp while in high school. The ACT Boot Camp is meant to teach study skills and prepare students for the ACT.
Riddle says she was employed by TRIO as a student worker for more than a year, adding that all of the staff members were considerate and helped her throughout high school and college.
Riddle said any students who are struggling financially should reach out to TRIO. She said many resources are available and they can help many students like they helped her.
“This program is designed to help students like me succeed,” Riddle said. “Work hard and never give up.”