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Talent search is a federally funded TRIO program and one of three TRIO programs at NCMC, including Upward Bound and Student Support Services.

President Lyndon Johnson, one of the first to stress the need for a quality education for all, introduced the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 creating TRIO Programs. The first TRIO program, Upward Bound, was created in 1964 followed by Talent Search in 1965 with the addition of six other programs bringing TRIO to a total of 8 programs.

NCMC was awarded the TRIO Talent Search grant in 2021 and is currently in the fifth year of the five-year grant cycle. Talent Search targets and provides resources for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds who have the potential to succeed in a post-secondary environment and is the only TRIO program working with middle school youth. During the current school year, the grant will be rewritten and submitted in a very competitive renewal process.

NCMC Talent Search works with St. Joseph School District youth, grades six through twelve.While open to any youth in the district, there is a selection process with priority given to students from income eligible, first-generation backgrounds. Designed to serve 500 students, the program provides opportunities and activities students might not otherwise experience. Services offered students include tutoring, academic advising, career exploration, day camps, and engaging activities to foster financial literacy, study skills, STEM concepts, and life and career skills. Career and cultural field trips/experiences are also part of Talent Search activities. As the youth enter high school, added services include class selection assistance, ACT prep workshops, college visits, financial aide and college application assistance and other needed support.

While hard to fathom how quickly time has passed, this milestone has led to reflection on the past four years. Enrollment has grown from 281 in 2021-22 to 523 in 2024-25. As the new and final year of the current grant begins, enrollment is already almost at capacity. It has been very rewarding to see the growth of students in the Talent Search program. Some TS students are in pre-vet and pre-med programs. Others are receiving schooling to do great things in the culinary or cosmetology world. Whatever their path, it has been exciting and gratifying to see how the students have grown while in our program and after they have graduated.

While all workshops, field trips, tutoring and other assistance offered by Talent Search are important, perhaps more important are the by-products of services offered. One of those is the positive adult relationship built with Talent Search advisors. Impactful relationships are formed as these advisors become more than an instructor; they become mentors and guides for academic and personal pursuits.

Another important aspect of Talent Search is building students’ confidence and self-esteem. Seeing the students grow, not only in knowledge and abilities, but in self-esteem and confidence is truly rewarding. Career exploration is part of all Talent Search experiences. Helping students find their spark and work towards a fulfilling career is one of the best parts of the Talent Search program.

The hope instilled in the Talent Search students still remains one of the most important aspects of the program. Often, First Generation students may not believe they can be successful when pursuing higher education. Helping students believe they can succeed in higher education and reaching their goals enabling them to be productive citizens in careers they enjoy remains one of the main successes of the talent search program.