A talent search program through Florida State University received a federal grant to invest into middle and high school students throughout the Panhandle. The plan is for the program to grow from 500 students to 2,000. Program director Melinda Wilson-Jones says the goal is to help students pursue a college degree.
“Those students who are potential 1st generation income restricted students or pell eligible students, those students who qualify for pell grant, the goal is to increase the number of students from those backgrounds who actually graduate high school and pursue a post-secondary education,” Wilson-Jones says.
The grant is for $1 million each year for a five year period. It will serve students across eight school districts, which include: Bay, Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Leon, Liberty and Washington. Wilson-Jones says the focus is not only on having students attend a traditional 2 or 4 year college or university, but to also consider trade schools or other avenues that will provide them with skills to give back to the community.
“Just increasing students awareness or access to different career pathways, whether that’s trade or technical," Wilson-Jones says. It’s a 2 year college. It’s a certification. It’s a 4 year degree.”
She says the grant will provide an opportunity to significantly increase students’ access to college and career exploration, financial aid assistance, mentoring, and more. Wilson-Jones also says it will also provide resources to help with the changing landscape of careers, including the usage of AI.
“Not running away from it but embracing it to see how can AI make something more productive," Wilson-Jones says. "How can you use AI to help you study? How can you help AI to help you solve problems?”
The five-year funding will start in October and run through 2031.
