Project Discovery - Talent Search

Explore. learn. grow.

Go beyond the classroom to build strong educational habits which help you obtain your college dreams.

Project Discovery is a Talent Search Project funded by the U.S. Department of Education and hosted by Western Carolina University. We proudly serve the Western North Carolina region by providing a varied college access curriculum that includes career exploration, college visits, adventure based learning and more.

100%

In the 2024-2025 school year, 100% of our seniors earned their High School diploma and 67% of those went on to enroll in a college program.

776

In the 2024-2025 school year our program served 776 students, surpassing our required 767 student target.

56%

Last year, 56% of our program alumni completed a college program within 6 years, which also far surpasses the 30% local average.

Project Discovery ~ Talent Search is a college access program serving low-income and first-generation college-bound students. Our program encourages middle and high school students to stay in school and graduate while providing the resources to help them transition to a post-secondary education.

We provide focused guidance programs and innovative educational opportunities that assist students in completing their secondary school education and moving forward to a college educational program of their choice. We wish to see every student in Western North Carolina graduate from high school and those who have the desire and drive to complete a post-secondary education.

More than 99% of our students graduate from high school, and nearly 80% enroll in college. Compared to 38% of their less advantaged peers. Of our alumni, at least 50% of them will graduate from college, while only 11% of their less advantaged peers who attend college will graduate. We also serve high school dropouts by encouraging them to reenter school and complete their education.

Areas We Serve

Project Discovery is dedicated to the service of 767 eligible youth from five westernmost counties of North Carolina and the Qualla Boundary. We will provide focused guidance programs and innovative educational opportunities that assist our participants in completing secondary school and matriculating to the post-secondary educational programs of their choosing. We focus on serving students who have need for our services, especially those from income-eligible and first-generation college backgrounds.

Our Curriculum

6th Grade:

Study skills: note taking, speed, and shortcuts, listening skills, learning styles
Outdoor classroom, evening and weekend activities and
Service Learning Week and other summer enrichment programs both on and off campus at WCU

7th Grade:

Decision making and group problem-solving skills: cooperation, communication, and concentration
Develop career and college awareness
Low element challenge course, outdoor classroom
Service Learning Week and other summer enrichment programs both on and off campus at WCU

8th Grade:

Career exploration
College awareness and exploration: interest inventories through CFNC and Career Bridges
Identifying and accepting healthy challenges: activities provide skills that help one develop healthy challenges in their lives through high element challenge course, outdoor classroom
Service Learning Week and other summer enrichment programs both on and off campus at WCU

9th Grade:

Development of the Individual Career Plan (ICP)
Career exploration
College awareness and exploration: interest inventories through CFNC and Career Bridges
A Community College visit, and at least 3 classroom career exploration workshops
Summer enrichment programs are encouraged, “On the Road”, “Girl Power”, “Adventure Treks”

10th Grade:

Career exploration
College awareness and exploration: interest inventories through CFNC and Career Bridges
Career Occupational Preference Survey is used to identify each students career interests.
Summer enrichment programs are encouraged, “On the Road”, “Girl Power”, “Adventure Treks”

11th Grade:

College and Career awareness and exploration: interest inventories through CFNC and Career Bridges
SAT and ACT registration and preparation workshops
SAT and ACT fee waivers
Overnight multi-stop college tour
Summer enrichment programs are encouraged, “On the Road”, “Girl Power”, “Adventure Treks”

12th Grade:

Senior needs assessment
Individual guidance is provided to assist each student in choosing a post-secondary school that will best suit the student
Assistance with applying for post-secondary ed programs
Assistance applying for Financial Aid
FAFSA Parent Night workshops
College and Career awareness and exploration: interest inventories through CFNC and Career Bridges
SAT and ACT registration and preparation workshops
SAT and ACT fee waivers

Outdoor and Cultural Programs

We have found that adventure activities, such as the ones that we provide are great tools for personal growth in our students. Youth are looking for excitement and adventure in their lives and we at Project Discovery ~ Talent Search believe we can provide Healthy Adventure that is exciting and challenging and supports students in their emotional, physical and mental growth. Growth requires effort and often a bit of discomfort. Growth requires that we venture beyond our "comfort zones." Growth is what we are after.

College Visits

Talent Search high school students from all our target schools have the opportunity throughout the year to participate in college visits. In the summer, we spend several days traveling across North Carolina, by bus, visiting multiple colleges. This experience helps students find the college that is right for them and gives them an opportunity to make new friends.

Outdoor Classroom

Talent Search students are encouraged to participate in a two-day outdoor classroom. Seventh and eighth-grade students will enjoy an exciting 24 hour adventure; rock climbing, canoeing, repelling, mountain biking, fishing and camping.

AMP CAMP

Each summer we bring seventh and eighth grade Talent Search students from all of our target schools to WCU to experience "College Life". They stay in the residence halls, participate in science classes, on campus and in the Smoky Mt. Park. They eat in the cafeteria, climb the huge climbing wall and so much more...and always make new friends.

High and Low Element Challenge Courses

Challenging yourself, working as a team and climbing to new heights. The Alpine Tower requires you to pause and work out your next move before you make it. While the low ropes course pushes you and your fellow Talent Search students to work together as a team solving physical "puzzles" and learning to trust one another.

On The Road

During the summer Talent Search may hit the road for multiple days on bicycles to visit new places and meet new people. Getting out of our comfort zone through challenging ourselves allows us to become more open-minded and better educated about the world around us. We can make friends anywhere and we've met some truly wonderful people thus far.

In The Water

During the summer Talent Search may hit the road for multiple days to far away places and meet new people. Getting to swim in the ocean is a treat for our salty travellers. Wave after wave brings courage, learning and resilience.

Our Team

arector@wcu.edu

Alex Rector

Acting Program Director

Serving Andrews and Clyde A. Erwin Schools

ebrittain@wcu.edu

Ellie Brittain

Outreach Counselor

Serving Cherokee Central and Robbinsville Schools

zmarshall@wcu.edu

Zach Marshall

Outreach Counselor

Serving Hiwassee Dam and Swain County Schools

ipatterson@wcu.edu

Imani Patterson

Graduate Assistant

Serving Cherokee Central Schools

sanchezc@wcu.edu

Cesar Sanchez