Talent Search

Talent Search (FOCUS)


Seminole State College's FOCUS/Educational Talent Search, which has been assisting students in this area since 1991, is an academic enrichment program you can join at your school. It is part of the TRiO Programs, which are funded by the U.S. Department of Education. During the school year your FOCUS/Educational Talent Search advisor will visit your school and meet with participants either in groups or individually. Talent Search serves students from the sixth through the twelfth grades. Our main purpose is to help students stay in and graduate from high school then proceed to some form of postsecondary education.


 

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What is Educational Talent Search (FOCUS)?

educational programs funded by the U.S. Department of Education.  These programs were started in order to provide  educational opportunity to all Americans regardless of race, ethnic, background, or economic circumstance.  The programs are funded under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965.   Program serves students from the sixth through the twelfth grades.  Our main purpose is to help students stay in and graduate from high school then proceed to some form of post secondary education.

  • Bowlegs
  • Butner
  • Earlsboro
  • Justice
  • Maud
  • McLoud
  • Macomb
  • New Lima
  • Paden
  • Pleasant Grove
  • Sasakwa
  • Seminole
  • Shawnee
  • Strother
  • Tecumseh
  • Varnum
  • Wewoka

 

The Seminole State College Talent Search West Project is 100% federally funded in the amount of $277,375 annually. 

How do we serve students?

,  we conduct workshops each month to assist students with the following subjects: study skills, test-taking strategies, life skills, college and career.  We also provide campus tours, and evening financial aid workshops for parents and students.  In addition  we provide academic workshop materials and handouts to participants.

FOCUS also offers free online and in person tutoring to participants in all subjects. For more information, please contact the FOCUS Office at 405-382-9709.

  most activities are done in groups; seniors have both group workshops and individual appointments with our advisors. We consider the needs of seniors - getting to college and applying for financial aid - to be a top priority.

What happens in the FOCUS /Educational Talent Search meetings?

Your FOCUS/Educational Talent Search Advisors conduct workshops and activities that provide you with valuable information - but in fun ways. Not only do you learn about college, careers, study skills, and life skills, you improve your interpersonal skills by interacting with others.

How can FOCUS /Educational Talent Search help me?

FOCUS/Educational Talent Search can provide you with the tools you need for a successful education and career. 

What if you...

  • Don't know how to study? We will show you how to develop good study habits you'll use for years to come.
  • Are unsure about how to apply for college? We can help you with the the application process.
  • Don't know how you will pay for college? We will assist you in finding sources of financial aid.
  • Are confused about what career you want to pursue?  We can help you match your interests and abilities with a caree that's right for you!

How can I join FOCUS/Educational Talent Search?

You must complete an application and attend one of the following schools: Bowlegs, Butner, Earlsboro, Justice, Maud, McLoud, Macomb, New Lima, Paden, Sasakwa, Seminole, Shawnee, Strother, Tecumseh, Varnum, Wewoka

You can fill out the application online here.

or complete the pdf form here, print and return to our office.

Need help with some homework?

The expert tutors at Tutor.com can help you work through a touch homework problem, improve your writing skills, study for a test, review a difficult concept and so much more!

FOCUS students: We want to remind you that you have access to FREE, 24/7 online tutoring​.  You can either go to www.tutor.com/focus or download the Tutor.com To Go app.  

For Focus Students Only: Your username is your lastname.firstname.  The password is SSCFOCUS.  

Tutor.com is a great resource! Tutors are waiting to help you!

In person tutoring is also available for FOCUS /Educational Talent Search participants. More information can be be found by contacting Director of FOCUS /Educational Talent Search, Angela Harjo, at a.harjo@sscok.edu or 405-382-9709.


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2023 Highlights

  • The SSC Talent Search/FOCUS Program, along with volunteers from SSC Student Support Services Program, attended the OKC Broadway production of Hamilton and enjoyed Logan's for lunch. "This event was a once in a lifetime opportunity that we were so excited to offer to our upper classman participants from our area high schools. We plan to have many more similar events in the future" (FOCUS Staff)
  • SSC Talent Search/FOCUS Program had the privilege of taking NINETY 6th graders, SSC student and staff volunteers, and high school mentors to see the Lion King musical at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center and to Golden Corral for lunch. Students and staff gave the production rave reviews!
  • SSC Talent Search/FOCUS federal grant program hosted an 8th grade, engineering “Coaster Camp”.  As students worked together and problem solved to build their own roller coasters, Mrs. Jenny Davidson taught hands on lessons related to force, motion, and energy. Students were then able to see those lessons on a larger scale with a visit to Frontier City theme park.  "We cannot brag on this group enough. They worked HARD, communicated well with their teammates, and problem-solved. Check out these future engineers!"
  • SSC Talent Search/FOCUS Program had their annual residential camp. Forty-seven 9th and 10th graders that represented 15 different area schools were in attendance and were able to experience the following: team building/leadership activities with Paradigm Shift, a tour and performance at The Academy of Contemporary Music at the University of Central Oklahoma, white water rafting at Riversport OKC, a trip to Frontier City, and so much more

Helpful Links

General College Information

Know How 2 Go (The 4 steps to college)

Adventures in Education
College is within your reach. —The future is coming at you fast. Education is the key to success, that’s why it is so important to get a college education. Whether you need help selecting, apply to, or paying for college, AIE can help.

College.gov
A great education can help you achieve your dreams. You can do it, and here's how.

okcollegestart.org

actstudent.org
Students can register to take college entrance exams administered and scored by ACT (the American College Test). The site also has parent resources, test taking strategies, and an event calendar. It also covers what students and parents need to do to prepare for college.  Students may also explore careers and how to prepare for jobs.

petersons.com
This website offers information on how to find the right college. It includes search tips, financial aid options and degree information provides information on colleges and universities in the United States.

okhighered.org
Oklahoma Higher Education website that gives information on Admissions Standards, College Cost, Glossary of College Terms, College Placement, Financial Aid, Education Information Services, as well as other links.

collegeboard.org
This is one of the entry sites for secondary students preparing for college life. This is a one stop for examination, financial aid and selecting the right school information.  Students can also pick up test dates, visit a campus, find out how to file applications online, or search for a school in a database with over 3,000 entries.

Novoresume
Want a step-by-step guide on how to look for, find, and win scholarships? This ultimate scholarship guide has everything you need to know!

Financial Aid Information

fafsa.ed.gov
This site serves as a guide to applying for a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and provides eligibility requirements and guidelines.

studentaid.ed.gov
This site gives students and parents more information about college and ways to pay for it: preparing, choosing, applying, funding, attending, and repaying.

finaid.org
Students will find a lengthy index of topics that provide assistance, tools, discussion, government and school sources of aid, specific interests and other information.

pin.ed.gov
Students can request a Personal Identification Number, or PIN through this website.  A PIN is the code that you need to: sign your FAFSA electronically; retrieve your renewal FAFSA information over the Internet; and file your renewal FAFSA using the FAFSA on the Web site.

salliemae.com
Sallie Mae believes education and life-long learning, in all forms, help people achieve great things. As the leader in private student lending, we provide financing and know-how to support access to college and offer products and resources to help customers make new goals and experiences, beyond college, happen. Learn more at www.salliemae.com.

collegeboard.com
Find the latest information about college costs, scholarships, financial aid applications, education loans, and college financing

Scholarship Information

Financial Aid -A Beginner's Guide for Nursing Students

Scholarships for Nursing Students -- And How to Win Them

The Nursing Student's Guide to Debt-Free Education

Zip Recruiter 

fastweb.com
Find money for college! Search 1.3 million scholarships worth over $3 billion. Get expert tips on financial aid, careers and more! Find your dream school with personalized matching against over 4,000 colleges. Students may also get more information from colleges via a college search.

College Greenlight

Need help making the right college choice? Search & compare colleges, get detailed info on admissions policies and apply for scholarships at CollegeGreenlight.com.

Novoresume
Want a step-by-step guide on how to look for, find, and win scholarships? This ultimate scholarship guide has everything you need to know!

African-American Scholarships
Use this site to search through thousands of scholarships and grants, many of which are administered by the United Negro College Fund. You will have access to both UNCF administered scholarships and scholarships administered by other organizations. You can search alphabetically, geographically and by discipline or major.


Hispanic Scholarships
Colleges are always looking to diversify their campuses and to make their schools more accessible to students of all ethnicities, economic backgrounds and religious beliefs. For this reason, many scholarships are restricted to minority students, including Hispanic students. Scholarships.com can help you find specific scholarships in these areas.

Native American Scholarships

collegefund.org
The American Indian College Fund provides scholarships and other support for the nation's 32 tribal colleges and universities.

free-4u.com/native1.htm
The site profiles several grants available to Native American students.  Notes the award amounts and criteria.

 

Career Information

bls.gov/oco/
The Occupational Outlook Handbook is a nationally recognized source of career information, designed to provide valuable assistance to individuals making decisions about their future work lives. The Handbook is revised every two years.

careers.org
The career resources center lists an index of career related websites.

careermag.com
The Career Magazine is an on-line publication devoted to career issues, job openings, resume postings and employers.

okcareertech.org
The Oklahoma Department of Vocational and Technical Education’s mission is to prepare Oklahomans to succeed in the workplace.  Within this site you will find up-to-date information about various divisions, teacher in-service
And professional development opportunities, instructional materials and products, business and industry contacts and much more.

Neuvoo.com
Neuvoo.com is a free job search aggregator that indexes jobs directly from companies' career websites, placement agencies and job boards. We have over 20.000.000 jobs indexed and more than 5 million jobs across the United States, making us the largest job database in the world at the moment. There are more than 45 thousand jobs in the state of Oklahoma indexed.

You can search using another region, city, state, industry, etc., and find all relevant jobs. We are present globally, showing jobs from 64 countries in all five continents.

There's also a free 'take-home' (after-tax) salary calculator on Neuvoo.com

Meet our staff

Angela Harjo

Angela Harjo Angela Harjo
 Director
 a.harjo@sscok.edu
 405-382-9709

Damaris Haney

Damaris Haney Damaris Haney
 Advisor 
 d.haney@sscok.edu 
 405-382-9713

Tina Savage

Tina Savage Tina Savage
 Advisor
 t.savage@sscok.edu 
 405-382-9701

Blake Cummings

Blake-Cummings.jpg Blake Cummings 
 Advisor
 b.cummings@sscok.edu
 405-382-9724

Rachelle Jones

Rachelle-Jones-Background-Removed.pngRachelle Jones
Advisor
r.jones@sscok.edu
(405) 382-9703

Yahnah Factor

Yahnah Factor Yahnah Factor
 Trio Accounting Clerk
 y.factor@sscok.edu
 405-382-9705

 

 

 


Angela HarjoContact Talent Search:

Angela Harjo: Director
Phone: 405-382-9709
a.harjo@sscok.edu

Room 109
Scott Building
Seminole State College
P.O. Box 351 Seminole, OK 74818
Office Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:00pm