DENTON (UNT), Texas -- Thanks to three new grants totaling $3.3 million, middle school and high school students in North Texas will continue to receive support from University of North Texas advisors and students in academic preparation, and the college search, admissions and financial aid process.

Talent Search and G-Force are major components in UNT's involvement in strengthening the college-going culture in the region, encouraging North Texas students to continue their education once they've completed high school, said Sarah Collins, director of Enrollment Management Initiatives at UNT. "It is critical to Texas that we continue to develop an educated workforce to support our economic growth," said Collins. "Both of these programs not only help students and parents realize the opportunities a college education presents, but help them navigate the process of selecting a college as well as the admissions and financial aid process."

Collins added that while UNT received two grants for its Talent Search program, fewer than 50 percent of the grant proposals nationwide were funded.

Talent Search

Over the next five years, UNT's Talent Search programs will serve more than 2,700 middle and high school students with academic enriching services that support career exploration and college readiness with the support of two grants totaling $3 million from the U.S. Department of Education.

Talent Search advisors guide students through the college admission and financial aid process through group workshops, individual meetings, and parent interactive presentations. 

Amanda Johnson, an active Talent Search student and a recent graduate of Denton Ryan High School said, "Talent Search has helped me get where I am today.  My Talent Search counselor helped me to explore careers and colleges and set goals for my future so that I would have some direction for making decisions.  My counselor also helped me complete all the paperwork for college admissions and educated me about all the steps necessary for enrollment.  I learned about the Emerald Eagle Scholars program and other scholarships that has made attending the University of North Texas possible."

Talent Search has been in existence at UNT since 1985 and has provided services to more than 15,000 students. Currently, UNT's Talent Search programs serve students in middle and high schools within the:

• Gainesville
• Denton
• Hurst-Euless-Bedford independent school districts.

G-Force and Go Center Outreach Initiative

A $300,000 grant extension by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to UNT's Office of Outreach will allow UNT's G-Force and Go Center Outreach Initiative to help high school students in four counties and eight school districts in North Texas gain a better understanding about college, the enrollment process, financial aid, and scholarships.

Program services are provided in by 35 G-Force Mentors who are UNT students working in Go Centers in area high schools, funded by the state's Work-Study Student Mentorship Grant.

UNT G-Force president and UNT senior, Shely Vargas, has helped hundreds of high school students prepare for the college enrollment process and has also gained personal skills along the way. 

"G-Force has been a life changing experience for me. I have come such a long way just from being a part of this organization. I've learned to break out of my shell, take risks and become more confident than ever," Vargas said.

The G-Force and Go Center Outreach Initiative has existed at UNT since 2004 and in 2010-2011 provided college access support to more than 5,000 students. This year, G-Force will staff Go Centers in 12 schools during 2011-2012 including:

• Dallas ISD – Thomas Jefferson High School and LG Pinkston High School
• Denton ISD – Denton High School and Billy Ryan High School
• Fort Worth ISD – Diamond Hill-Jarvis High School
• Frisco ISD – Frisco High School and Justin Wakeland High School
• Keller ISD – Central High School
• Lewisville ISD  - Career Center East and the Dale Jackson Career Center
• Northwest ISD – Northwest High School
• Prosper ISD – Prosper High School