Academic Excellence
Community and Outreach
2020 Talent Search summer mentoring a huge success
Morehead State's Educational Talent Search program had a successful summer of virtual programming to keep recent high school graduates engaged and prepare them to transition to college. "Keeping our seniors engaged during the summer months is a challenge but maintaining focus during a World Pandemic has proven to be even more challenging," said Camille Hamilton, TRiO Academic coordinator. Hoping to prevent the "summer melt," when students who have applied to, been accepted by, and made a deposit to a college, but did not attend that college. Talent Search focused on weekly engagement through text messages to connect with students and parents about upcoming postsecondary scenarios.
For 13 weeks beginning in May, Talent Search students received a prompt via text message. Students replied by asking questions and their counselor responded with answers.
"First-generation students are much more at risk of falling into the ‘melt’ because of a lack of support to further their education. Utilizing social media allowed Talent Search staff to keep communication open for all our students," Hamilton said. She added that in 2020, the summer mentoring program had more participation than any other year before.
Each month, a drawing was held to give away a gift card. Students were required to respond to the weekly mentoring program messages to be entered into the drawing. At the end of the summer, a grand prize winner was drawn from the entire group of participants in all three months of mentoring, and that person received an iPad. The following students were winners:
- Makenna Rose from Elliott County High School (May gift card winner).
- Promise Cross from Rowan County Senior High School (June gift card winner).
- Kaley Collins from Morgan County High School (July gift card winner).
- Natalie Crace from Magoffin County High School (grand prize winner).
Photo Caption: MSU Freshman Natalie Crace from Magoffin County was the winner of a new iPad for her participation in the Educational Talent Search summer mentoring program.
