CONGRESSWOMAN EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON CONGRATULATES SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY ON TALENT SEARCH GRANT AWARD

Washington, DC – (Wednesday, July 20, 2011) – Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson congratulates Southern Methodist University (SMU) for being selected to receive two grants under the Department of Education’s Talent Search Program. The grants will both be in the amount of $230,000.00 for a five year period. 

 The Talent Search grant program identifies and assists individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds who have the potential to succeed in higher education. The program provides academic, career, and financial counseling to its participants and encourages them to graduate from high school and continue on to complete their postsecondary education. The program publicizes the availability of financial aid and assists participants with the postsecondary application process. It also encourages persons who have not completed education programs at the secondary and postsecondary level to enter or reenter and complete postsecondary education.

 “I congratulate SMU on receiving funds to assist their Talent Search program,” said Congresswoman Johnson.  “TRIO and Talent Search are outstanding programs that help create a pipeline to higher education and academic success.  The evidence of their success is the many students who have participated in these programs and gone onto to accomplish great things.  I am so pleased that SMU will be using these funds to continue the Talent Search program in the Dallas Metroplex.”

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U.S. Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson is Ranking Member of the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology. She is also the highest-ranking Texan on the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure. She represents the 30th Congressional District of Texas that includes Downtown Dallas, Fair Park, Oak Lawn, Turtle Creek,Old East Dallas, Pleasant Grove, & South Oak Cliff; all of Balch Springs, DeSoto, Hutchins, Lancaster & Wilmer and parts of Cedar Hill, Duncanville, Ferris, Glenn Heights and Ovilla.