Educational Talent Search Program

First Generation College Student LogoHigh School Students: Get the Mentoring You Need

Eligible high school students in the Joliet district can take part in the Education Talent Search (ETS Trio) program. All participants receive mentorship as they plan for their life after high school.  Approximately 500 youth participate in this federally funded program each year. Benefits of this program include:

  • Personalized advising and mentoring
  • College and career exposure
  • Academic support
  • And much more!

Trio Logo Educational Talent SearchEligibility and Requirements

To participate, you must:

  • Be a U.S. citizen

You must have one of the following:

  • A documented disability
  • A family household income that meets guidelines established by the U.S. Department of Education
  • Be a potential first generation college student (your parents/adoptive parents or legal guardians have not received a bachelor's degree)

Apply to the ETS Program

Educational Talent Search Application

How We Can Help

  • Services Offered to ETS Students

    Academic Support

    • Tutoring
    • Help with selecting high school courses
    • Help with growing study skills
       

    Career Exploration Workshops (see our events section below)

    • Resume Building
    • College Prep
    • College Visits
    • Financial Aid & Scholarship Assistance
       

    Personal Development

    • Leadership skills
    • Cultural Enrichment opportunities
    • Community Service 
       

    Resources 

    • College planning
    • Test prep
    • Financial Aid & Financial Literacy
    • Scholarships

  • Schools Served

    The Educational Talent Search program primarily serves high school students at Joliet Township, Joliet Central and Joliet West. 

  • Financial Resources

  • Meet Our Staff

    DeAndre R. Butler, Senior Director
    Phone: (815) 280-2303
    Email: debutler@jjc.edu

    DeAndre R. Butler is a TRIO/Student Support Services alum from Northern Illinois University. At NIU, he achieved his bachelor’s degree in sociology. In 2007, Butler landed his first job in the higher education field at Colorado Technical University Online, as an Admissions Advisor. He decided to further his education in higher ed and student affairs and graduated with a master's degree in education from NIU in 2010. 

    Butler was born and raised in Harvey, Illinois and came from a first-generation and low-income household where he was the first in his family to graduate with his bachelor’s. He is very committed to his work with JJC Student Support Services. Butler is a strong believer in assisting students on being successful while attending JJC so that they can graduate and transfer. He is actively involved with organizations, clubs and committees for the benefit of his students and department.

    Colleen Uremovic

    Colleen Uremovic
    Educational Outreach Specialist
    Email: colleen.uremovic@jjc.edu
    Phone: (815) 280-1443

    Colleen Uremovic is a lifelong resident of the Joliet area and has dedicated her professional career to working within the Joliet community that has formed her into the person she is today. Uremovic graduated summa cum laude from the University of St. Francis with a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and endorsements in English as a Second Language (ESL) and Special Education. Throughout her time at USF, she gained experience working in a higher education environment as a student ambassador and certified peer mentor. Upon graduation, Uremovic worked in Joliet District 86 as a general education teacher in an inclusion setting and as a special education teacher in a self-contained setting. Uremovic has extensive experience teaching and mentoring individuals within the Joliet community which supports her in her duties as an Educational Outreach Specialist for Joliet Junior College’s ETS branch of the TRIO program. In this program, Uremovic works directly with students to provide mentoring, tutoring, and programming that can assist students in establishing and working towards goals that will enhance their success leading toward and long after graduation. As a member of the Joliet Community who has benefited from participating in a first-generation college student program, Uremovic knows how important programs like ETS are. Uremovic is passionate about assisting students in discovering what is important to them and providing resources they can use to work towards reaching those goals. Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

    Giovanni Alvarado

    Giovanni Alvarado
    Educational Outreach Specialist
    Email: giovanni.alvarado@jjc.edu
    Phone: (815) 280-1408

    Giovanni Alvarado is the Educational Outreach Specialist for the TRIO Educational Talent Search Program at Joliet Junior College and works closely with students at Joliet Central High School. As a passionate and dedicated individual, he believes that every student has the ability to succeed and reach their highest potential of aspirations. Dreams are what inspire everyone to grow and discover our unique abilities and talents. As such, Giovanni believes that all students should never give up on their dreams and live life to the fullest. Giovanni has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of St. Francis specializing in Communication Media Arts and is a fellow alum of Joliet Central, he brings grant management experience to TRIO as a former coordinator for the Advanced Nursing Education Workforce (ANEW) HRSA Grant from USF. He enjoys the arts, political affairs, novels and sharing his music with the community by playing Japanese Koto, licensed by the Sawai Tokyo School in Japan. He recently has been appointed by the City of Joliet to serve as Arts Commissioner for the Arts Council and looks forward to bring creativity, policy direction, and a pragmatic approach to foster and enrich the quality of life within the community and its public spaces.

    Madison Herrington
    ETS Office Assistant
    Email: madison.herrington@jjc.edu
    Phone: (815) 280-1449

Upcoming Events