Educational Talent Search Program

Andrea Brin, Director

Office: Telford House

Email: Andrea.Brin@eku.edu

Phone: (859) 622-5822

The EKU Educational Talent Search (ETS) Program is one of the federal TRIO pre-college programs that serves 765 students in Estill, Garrard, Jackson, Lee, and Madison counties. ETS is funded by the U.S. Department of Education and has been hosted at EKU since 1985. ETS works with students in middle school and high school who have the interest and ability to continue their education beyond high school. Two-thirds of the participants must meet federal income and first-generation guidelines for the program.

The goal of the program is to assist participants as they transition from middle school to high school, and on to a post-secondary educational institution. Educational Talent Search offers services related to the following areas: academic information, career resources, exposure to college campuses, career sites and cultural activities, financial literacy, financial aid program information, mentoring, tutoring and personal development activities. Educational Talent Search also offers assistance to out-of-school adults in identifying additional support services. ETS offers assistance for high school completion through referrals to GED programs and local high schools. Services are also available for those who are enrolling in postsecondary institutions for the first time or for those who are returning to school.

All ETS services and activities are at no cost to the student and family. More information and the ETS application can be found on the ETS website at: www.eku.edu/educational-talent-search

McNair Scholars Program

Dr. Gill Hunter, Interim Director
Whitlock 312
(859) 622-7029

The McNair Scholars Program at Eastern Kentucky University is a federal initiative funded through the U.S. Department of Education. The McNair Scholars Program encourages and assists undergraduate students from disadvantaged backgrounds who aim to enter careers that require doctoral achievement. Professional staff members provide supportive supplemental advising, offer holistic academic counseling, and facilitate structured training opportunities that enhance participants’ readiness for graduate school applications and preparation for graduate school achievement.

Services provided by the program include:

•  PhD faculty mentoring
• Supportive supplemental advising
• Holistic academic counseling
• Seminars and scholarly activities that prepare participants for graduate level achievement
• Paid summer research internships
• Conference and presentation opportunities
• Graduate school application preparation and support
• EKU Scholarships

NOVA Program

(TRIO Student Support Services)

Ms. Sierrah Anderson, Project Director
Cammack 005
Phone: (859) 622-1047
www.nova.eku.edu

The NOVA Program is a federal TRIO Student Support Services grant project that provides comprehensive support services to eligible students at EKU.  NOVA is committed to fostering the intellectual, personal, and professional growth of first-generation, limited income, and students with disabilities from Orientation to Graduation. NOVA’s retention model is comprehensive in design, providing targeted services designed to meet each student’s individual needs.

Students who are interested in joining NOVA may apply online at www.eku.edu/nova or by emailing the Project Director (Sierrah.Anderson@eku.edu) for an application.

Upward Bound Program

Mr. Richard McHone, Director
Patterson House
(859) 622-1080

EKU Upward Bound is an academic, college-preparatory program serving 125 first-generation, low-income high school students in Casey, Estill, Lee, Lincoln, Powell, and Wolfe counties. Upward Bound is funded by the U.S. Department of Education as one of the federal TRIO programs and has been at EKU since 1965.

Upward Bound provides a comprehensive year-round program each academic year and summer components encompassing a wide variety of services including educational instruction, individualized and group academic tutoring, college exposure, financial aid assistance and financial literacy, career exploration, and cultural activities. The academic year component consists of monthly on-campus academic sessions and school visits and individual contacts. The summer residential component lasts for six weeks and is designed to simulate a college-going experience by offering academic enrichment through rigorous coursework in mathematics through pre-calculus, laboratory science, foreign language, and composition and literature, as well as electives and special interest classes. Participation is at no cost to the students.

Interested students should contact their high school guidance counselor or visit the website to “Nominate a Student” at www.eku.edu/upward-bound/