Portage Township Schools is excited to partner with Purdue University Northwest to offer the TRIO Talent Search program to students in grades 6 through 12.
The program, which is funded by the U.S. Department of Education, works with schools to identify students with diverse backgrounds who have the potential to succeed in higher education. More than 100 PTS students currently participate in the TRIO program.
PTS School Advisers will work with Purdue University Northwest to identify students who would benefit from the program. Services include high-quality tutoring, course selection guidance, college admittance preparation, financial resource and benefits, referrals to area resources, and financial literary and planning. Additionally, students have the opportunity to attend tours of various colleges and universities both in-state and out-of-state.
Portage High School students enrolled in the program attended two college visit trips last school year. The West Coast College Tour included visits to UCLA, USC, and Loyola-Marymount University. The Indiana State College Tour took students to Purdue University Northwest, Purdue University, Indiana University/Purdue University Indianapolis, Indiana State University, and Indiana University Bloomington.
The goals of the program are to keep non-seniors on track for grade level completion, see seniors graduate high school with a diploma, encourage students to engage in rigorous courses, assist seniors with post-secondary enrollment by the immediate fall semester, and monitor student progress for six years to track post-secondary program completion.
Of all 709 students enrolled in the program in LaPorte, Porter, Starke, and Lake counties, 98% reached grade-level completion and earned a high school diploma.
For more information on Purdue University Northwest’s TRIO Talent Search Program, visit www.pnw.edu/eop.