Educational Talent Search kicks off semester with signature event
October 01, 2010 - Brooke Zimny
Ouachita Baptist University’s TRIO Educational Talent Search hosted more than 360
students and teachers Sept. 24 on Ouachita’s campus.
“It was a great day and very well received by the students,” said Suzanne Burgess,
assistant director of OBU’s Educational Talent Search.
Dr. Stan Poole, OBU’s vice president for academic affairs, and Brenda Philson, director
for OBU’s TRIO program and Educational Talent Search, welcomed guests to an opening
session in Jones Performing Arts Center that featured a “fantastic” performance by
the OBU drum line, according to Burgess. Members of the drum line also spoke to the
group, sharing their Ouachita experiences.
The keynote speaker was Trey Talley, motivational speaker, body builder and author
of “Teenage Construction Zone.” A leader of evangelistic organization Team Impact,
he grew up in nearby Gurdon, Ark., and currently lives in the Dallas area.
“Trey really encouraged them to make good choices to attain their goals,” Burgess
said.
Talent Search gave away Talent Search t-shirts as well as signed copies of Talley’s
book as door prizes. An iPod Shuffle was also given as an incentive to promote attendance
at future tutoring sessions, which begin in October and run through April. Students
with good attendance at tutoring sessions throughout the year will have the opportunity
to enter drawings for additional iPod Shuffles at the end of the school year.
After the morning session, visitors were invited to eat lunch in the Ouachita Commons,
which is “always a hit with students,” Burgess said.
After lunch, the students met with their mentors for the first time in Sturgis Physical
Education Center. The Ouachita students who serve as mentors performed skits and conducted
group activities that laid the foundation for their ongoing relationships. The mentors
and Talent Search students will continue to meet on a monthly basis.
Talent Search Day was “very successful,” said Burgess, “and we’re looking forward
to having the students back on campus for Tiger Tunes on Oct. 21.”
Talent Search is a federally funded TRIO program designed to identify promising students
within certain economic backgrounds and help them take the necessary steps to pursue
postsecondary education.
For more information, contact Suzanne Burgess at [email protected] or (870) 245-4162.
By Brooke Zimny
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