TRIO program earns five-year federal grant

Grand Valley earned a five-year, $1.7 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to fund and expand its TRIO Educational Talent Search program, which serves sixth-12th grade students from Grand Rapids Public Schools.

Sarah Keranen-Lopez, director of TRIO Educational Talent Search, said grant funding for the upcoming academic year totals $345,120 and she anticipates the same amount annually over the five-year grant period. The total $1.7 million grant was the largest awarded to a Michigan university from the Department of Education.

The grant allows the program to expand services to 719 participants from three GRPS middle schools (Burton, Riverside and Westwood) and three high schools (Innovation Central, Ottawa Hills and Union). TRIO Educational Talent Search offers academic and career counseling to students from families with low incomes and whose parents have not earned bachelor's degrees and prepares them for a successful entry into college.

Keranen-Lopez said tutoring and mentoring programs will be expanded to include computer-based tutoring at the high schools and a college coaching mentoring program at Union High School that will assist seniors with financial aid applications.

Caryn M. King, associate dean of the College of Education, said Grand Valley is pleased to continue working with GRPS through TRIO Educational Talent Search. "I have witnessed first-hand the transformation students often undergo as a result of being a participant," King said. "Students adopt a 'can-do' attitude that serves them while in school and in the future."

TRIO staff members are recruiting students for the program through school open houses and school staff recommendations.

Teresa Weatherall Neal, superintendent of schools for GRPS, said the district is excited to partner with Grand Valley because the TRIO program is successful. "This is a huge win for GRPS students as we know students who are part of TRIO get better grades, stay in school, and are more likely to graduate and go on to college," Weatherall Neal said.

For more information about TRIO Educational Talent Search, visit www.gvsu.edu/ets.