CLC finds and grooms talent

After making the switch to a public high school her freshman year, Brooke Baldwin quickly discovered she needed some help.

"I realized being in that different environment, I needed some tutoring," said Baldwin, now 18. "I asked my English teacher and she told me to meet her after school. I went once and then just kept (going)."

The after-school study group Baldwin frequented was Talent Search, a program run though the College of Lake County.

The pre-college educational program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education and serves about 17,085 Illinois residents enrolled in 24 Talent Search programs across the state.

Thanks to a recent $301,677 grant from the federal government, CLC will continue the Talent Search program for its 17th year.

Dana Chism, program director, said Talent Search serves students whose parents do not have a bachelor's degree and have a limited income.

The college works with students from high schools in Zion, North Chicago, Round Lake and Waukegan.

Talent Search offers career mentoring, study skills sessions and test preparation, and decision-making skills.

"We want to do everything we can to make sure these students are going into post-secondary education," Chism said.

About 800 students a year are enrolled in the Talent Search program, which is administered after school by teachers who are paid by CLC.

Suzana Thomas has worked with the Talent Search program for two years at North Chicago High School. An English teacher at the school, Thomas said she wishes more programs like this were offered at at-risk schools.

"The kids who come in really do need extra help," she said. "This is an opportunity for them to receive the support they need. I've seen students who had never entertained the idea of going to college, now come in and ask for help filling out their college applications."

Baldwin graduated from Zion-Benton Township High School in the spring, and is a freshman at CLC. She's also an aspiring doctor.

The first in her family to go to college, Baldwin credits much of her success to Talent Search.

"It has been a really good program," she said. "We've gone on field trips and they've really helped with my homework."

The next field trip Baldwin will go on with Talent Search is a tour of historically black universities, including Howard University in Washington, D.C. -- Baldwin's dream school.

"I'm hoping when we go, they will just leave me there," Baldwin said.