TRIO Educational Talent Search

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Program Overview

St. Olaf Trio Educational Talent Search (ETS) is a college preparatory program funded by the U.S. Department of Education’s TRIO Programs with St. Olaf College sponsorship. The goal of ETS is to increase the likelihood that participants learn about careers, college, and financial aid, complete high school, and gain admission to and ultimately graduate from postsecondary programs.

ETS serves 103 Edison students who meet federal income guidelines and/or will be the first in their families to obtain a college degree. ETS also serves Humboldt High School and Middle School, Community Peace Academy, and Northeast Middle School.

Advisors are available in person at Edison on Wednesdays and Fridays from 1pm-3pm in room 330 and are available virtually Monday through Friday from 8 am-4:30 pm.

Services Provided

College, career exploration, and financial aid/financial literacy workshops.
ACT preparation and study skills seminars.
Information on summer enrichment opportunities and scholarships.
Quarterly newsletters sent home focusing on high school planning and financial aid.
College visits and field trips

Curriculum

9th Grade:

Initial Program Contact/SRQs/Transcript Check
Getting Involved Pays Off/Tutoring Referral
Factors in College Admissions/Minnesota State Requirements
College is for Me
Career Personality Inventory
Financial Aid Character Stories
Summer Program Information/Summer School Information
Enrichment Game: Jeopardy!

10th Grade:

Initial Program Contact and Enrichment Game: Jeopardy
Making Your College Profile, Tutoring Referral
Financial Aid Character Stories (AA, FA, FL, WS)
Personal Skills: Interviewing (AA, CC, COA, PC, WS) Tutoring Referral
Resume Creation/Step Up Referral, MITY Director’s Visit
Summer Program Information/Summer School Information
Summer Program Follow up

11th Grade:

Thinking about Thinking
Researching Colleges (on Big Future College Board website)
Types of Colleges
ACT Registration Online
ACT Prep Workshop Session/ACT Basic Information/MITY Director Visit
College Essay Creation
Senior Year Timeline

12th Grade:

Senior Fall Check-Ins, This is Where I’m At, Transcript Check, Student Report Questionnaire
Jargon: The Language of the College Bound, FAFSA Reminder, Scholarship Assistance
STRONG Interest Inventory, FAFSA Reminder, Scholarship Assistance, College Application Assistance
College Application Assistance, Essay Assistance, FAFSA Reminder
Senior Spring Check-In, Transcript Check, FAFSA follow up, Scholarship Assistance
Credit Savvy Activity, FAFSA Reminder, Scholarship Assistance
FAFSA Reminder, Scholarship Assistance
Senior Banquet, The College Transition

Additional Activities

Newsletters Focus on program activities, financial aid, and college preparation
ETS Certificates of Excellence
Academic Intervention Meetings
FAFSA/Financial Aid Nights
College Visits and Field Trips

About the Edison Academic Advisors

Kali Hickman(She,They)

hickma2@stolaf.edu

Kali graduated from the University of Minnesota with a major in Political Science and a minor in Chicano and Latino Studies. While Kali was TRIO eligible, she didn’t utilize the program offered at her high school in South Saint Paul, Minnesota so she knows firsthand the difficulties that come with navigating the world of higher education. Looking back, she realizes how much she really would have benefited from joining TRIO. However, Kali is overjoyed that she is now in a position where she is able to help students that are just like her when she was in high school so that they don’t have to go through that same difficult and scary process alone as she did!

You can schedule a virtual appointment with Kali here.

Anna Schmid(She,Her)

schmid22@stolaf.edu

Anna graduated from the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee with a major in Women and Gender Studies and a minor in Political Science. Anna worked for the Student Success Center at the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee as a peer mentor, where she advised first-year college students and transfer students to help them adjust to college and get the support they need. Working at the Student Success Center is what drove Anna to pursue working with students to support them in pursuing higher education. Anna attended Minneapolis public schools from Kindergarten to senior year so she is so excited to now be in a position where she is able to be back in the Minneapolis Public School system and work with Minneapolis students.