Kilgore College has been awarded a five-year, $1.26 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Education to continue its Educational Opportunity Center program, which helps East Texans access higher education and career training opportunities.
The Educational Opportunity Center, or EOC, is one of the federal TRIO programs authorized under the Higher Education Act of 1965.
EOC programs provide counseling and information about college admissions, financial aid and educational opportunities to qualified individuals seeking to enter or continue a postsecondary education program.
KC’s EOC serves residents of Gregg, Harrison, Rusk and Upshur counties and is funded to assist 900 participants each year.
Services are provided at no cost and include individualized assistance for people seeking to begin or return to college, complete a postsecondary education or pursue career and technical training.
“This five-year investment from the U.S. Department of Education strengthens KC’s ability to expand educational opportunity throughout the communities we serve,” said Dr. Staci Martin, president of KC. “The Educational Opportunity Center is an important part of our commitment to helping individuals identify pathways to education and training that can lead to greater opportunities for themselves, their families and our East Texas communities.”
“Access to higher education begins well before a student enters a classroom,” said Dr. Brett Haduch, vice president of student services at KC. “Programs like EOC help individuals overcome barriers that can make the college-going process difficult to navigate. By connecting people with information, resources and individualized support, EOC helps create a clearer pathway from considering higher education to enrolling and moving toward completion.”
KC also administers the federal TRIO Upward Bound and Student Support Services programs, providing a continuum of services designed to expand access to higher education and support student success.
For more information about KC’s TRIO programs, visit www.kilgore.edu/trio-programs.
ABOUT THE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY CENTER:
Kilgore College’s TRIO Educational Opportunity Center provides free assistance to eligible clients who live in Gregg, Harrison, Rusk and Upshur counties and are interested in beginning, continuing or returning to postsecondary education or career training. EOC services include assistance with college and vocational school applications, application fee waivers, financial aid and FAFSA completion, scholarship searches, college placement testing, student loan default issues and referrals for adult education and GED services. The program is designed to help individuals navigate the steps necessary to access educational and training opportunities. For more information, visit www.kilgore.edu/eoc.