The Educational Talent Search Program provides one-on-one educational and career counseling to Indian youth and young adults ages 11 to 27 in the counties of Columbus, Halifax, Hoke, Sampson and Warren. Program guidelines require that two-thirds of the program’s participants be first-generation college and come from families with low incomes. High dropout rates, low competency test scores and high unemployment rates are all characteristics of the Indian population in the project’s target counties.

Talent Search staff make visits to schools in each target county and present programs designed to help students improve their academic performance, enhance their self-esteem, broaden their career awareness and understand financial aid information. Study skills improvement workshops are conducted in each of the program's target counties and high school students in each county have the opportunity to participate in workshops designed to teach test-taking skills for pre-college admission tests such as the Scholastic Achievement Test (SAT). Students also participate in tours of colleges. During these tours, students meet with representatives of the institutions' admissions and financial aid offices and talk to enrolled Indian students about campus life.

For additional information about the program, contact Program Director Mickey Locklear at 919-789-5900 or mickey.locklear@doa.nc.gov.

Counselors