Indian Hills Community College has been awarded two federal TRIO grants through the U.S. Department of Education to continue operating its Educational Opportunity Center and Educational Talent Search programs, which together will serve approximately 1,500 participants annually across southeast Iowa, according to Bryan Stewart from the college.
The Educational Opportunity Center grant will provide $280,000 annually for five years, while the Educational Talent Search grant will provide $250,000 annually for five years, both subject to continued federal appropriations.
IHCC President Matt Thompson said the awards reflect the college’s commitment to expanding opportunity throughout the region. “These awards reflect Indian Hills Community College’s unwavering commitment to expanding opportunity throughout southeast Iowa,” Thompson said. “The Educational Opportunity Center and Educational Talent Search help remove barriers to education and training, creating life-changing pathways that strengthen families, transform lives, and build a stronger workforce for our region.”
The Educational Opportunity Center program will serve 1,000 participants annually across a 14-county region in southeast Iowa, providing free FAFSA assistance, financial aid advising, college admissions support, career planning, and guidance for educational and workforce training pathways. The award is particularly significant because it restores services that were interrupted when IHCC’s previous EOC grant was canceled in September 2025. With the new award, Indian Hills will once again provide EOC services throughout the region, helping adults and eligible youth navigate educational opportunities and achieve their career goals.
The Educational Talent Search program will serve 500 students annually in grades 6 through 12 from the Ottumwa and Cardinal Community School Districts, targeting low-income and first-generation students who face academic, informational, and economic barriers to postsecondary education. Through academic advising, tutoring, financial aid assistance, college and career readiness programming, and structured career exploration, the program helps students prepare for success beyond high school.
Indian Hills has operated TRIO programs for decades and currently administers four such programs designed to increase educational attainment and economic mobility among first-generation students, low-income individuals, and other populations traditionally underrepresented in higher education. The federal TRIO programs were established under the Higher Education Act to help students and adults access higher education and workforce training, complete credentials, and prepare for successful careers.
