TRIO Talent Search Awards 19 Summer Youth Program Scholarships

19 students from the Copper Country ISD, Gogebic-Ontonagon ISD and Forest Park Schools have been awarded scholarships to attend Summer Youth Programs at Michigan Technological University. Active participants in TRIO Talent Search 9^th, 10^th and 11^th grades were encouraged to apply. Each scholarship is valued at $1000, which covers the cost of registration, room & board, transportation and any lab fees.

“STEM (Science, technology, engineering and mathematics) is everywhere in the world around us and continuously expanding into every aspect of our lives,” said Dave Kamrad, Director of TRIO Pre-College Programs. “By giving the students we serve this opportunity to attend a STEM program and explore STEM-related concepts, that they may not otherwise have, they will hopefully develop a passion for it and lay the foundation for an auspicious future in a STEM field.”

Selected students are: Ethan Brunell (AD Johnston), Seth Carroll (Luther L Wright), Kylee Damgard (Wakefield-Marenisco), Breanna Datto (Dollar Bay-Tamarack City), Tyler Dumke (Forest Park), Chloe Hoffstrom (Ontonagon), Rayven Jacobson (Forest Park), Cadance Johnson (Dollar Bay-Tamarack City), Corrin Kelly (Wakefield-Marenisco), Alyssa LaMaide (Wakefield-Marenisco), Senia Manson (Houghton), Gracie Peterson (Forest Park), Alannah Pisco (Luther L Wright), Travis Romenesko (Watersmeet), Madeline Ruuspakka (Baraga), Shantell Simmons (L’Anse), Zackery Turner (Forest Park), Madeline Vaughn (Luther L Wright), & Edmond Williams (Watersmeet).

TRIO Talent Search was able to provide these scholarships to Summer Youth Programs through a supplementary grant, focused on increasing STEM awareness. The grant was also able to plan four STEM & Robotic days for TRIO Talent Search participants, purchase STEM materials for their small group meetings, and purchase updated technology for students to use at TRIO events. The supplemental grant application was offered by the US Department of Education to all TRIO Talent Search programs in the US. TRIO Talent Search, hosted by Finlandia University, was notified in September 2019 that they were being awarded the grant for the 2019-2020 academic year. TRIO Upward Bound, also hosted by Finlandia University, received a similar supplemental grant for the 2018-2019 academic year.

TRIO Talent Search is 100% grant funded by the US Department of Education and proudly hosted by Finlandia University.  The program exists to assist students who are from a limited income home and/or potential first-generation students prepare for successful entry and completion of post-secondary education. For more information about TRIO’s programs, events and areas served, visit keweenawtrio.org.