TRIO Talent Search (TS) at Kirkwood Community College is a free educational program that assists 6th-12th grade participants in their preparation for enrollment into any college of their choice.
Funded by a federal grant from the U.S. Department of Education, the purpose of the program is to increase the number of youth from disadvantaged backgrounds who complete high school and enroll in and complete their postsecondary education.
TS advisors work with school counselors and teachers to identify qualified students with the potential to succeed in higher education. TS staff work to guide and advise students of college requirements so students are eligible to apply to the university of their choice. Students participate in an array of educational opportunities, including field trips, career exploration, financial literacy workshops, SAT/ACT preparation, and college tours.
Each year the TRIO TS program at KCC provides services to 500 middle and high school participants in the Linn and Jones counties. One third of participants can be anyone who is interested in attending college, but two-thirds of participants served by TRIO TS must qualify as first-generation (parents did not graduate from a 4-year college), are college-bound, and meet income guidelines established by the U.S. Department of Education. To learn more about income guidelines, visit the U.S. Department of Education website.
To be eligible, a student must meet the following eligibility criteria:
Most students are considered for TRIO TS admission in the fall, but applications are accepted year-round.
To apply for TRIO TS services, students and their parent or guardian should work together to complete the TRIO TS Application.
TRIO TS Online Application TRIO TS PDF Application
TRIO TS Online Application - Espanol
Completed applications can be submitted online, printed and returned to school counselors, or mailed to the TRIO office:
Kirkwood Community College
TRIO Talent Search
Linn County Regional Center
302 Main Office
1770 Boyson Road
Hiawatha, IA 52233
TRIO TS activities are designed to promote a supportive educational climate and to help increase persistence, high school graduation, completion of rigorous high school courses, college enrollment, and college degree attainment. TRIO TS can help with:
Samantha Flores
Director, TRIO Talent Search
Schools: Midland Middle and High Schools
Email: Samantha.Flores@Kirkwood.edu
Phone: 319-398-1048
Yadira Dominguez
Program Advisor, TRIO Talent Search
Schools: Wilson Middle School and Jefferson High School
Email: Yadira.Dominguez@Kirkwood.edu
Phone: 319-398-2582
Allison Ster
Program Advisor, TRIO Talent Search
Schools: Roosevelt Creative Corridor Business Academy and Washington High School
Email: Allison.Ster@Kirkwood.edu
Phone: 319-398-2583