The UNT TRIO Talent Search program recently provided an exciting opportunity for five
Gainesville High School students, along with additional participants from Denton High
School and Ryan High School, to attend a four-day Texas TRIO Student Leadership Conference
in Texarkana, Texas. This immersive experience focused on building leadership, communication,
and college-readiness skills through interactive workshops and activities. Students
had the chance to connect with peers from across the state and return home inspired
to lead and excel. The trip reflects TRIO's mission to empower students through academic,
professional, and personal development.
2025 Laptop Scholarships
CONGRATULATIONS to the 2025 Talent Search Seniors from Denton & Ryan High School who
received a Laptop Scholarship on Monday, May 5th at Ryan High School by the Denton Evening Rotary. This year marks the 8th anniversary
of this collaboration with the Denton Evening Rotary who works tirelessly each spring
to raise money for these scholarships! A big thank you to the Denton Evening Rotary
for this partnership to help these students have the tools they need to succeed in
college! The Denton Mayor, Gerard Hudspeth, was also in attendance to personally
congratulate these students!
2025 Laptop Recipients: *Listed Alphabetically (not in order of group picture above)
Kimberly A., Diana A., Rabi B., Artemis C., Caleb C., Brisseida C., Chelsy C., Jackelyne
D., Ciara G., Alexander G., Valeria H., Rebekah L., Skyelar H.,
Rylee J., Garrett M., Yazmin M., Ezekial M., Drake N., Kanaisia P., Rafaelle Vivien
S., Lucia S., Michiah S., Halle S., Abril V.
UNT at the COE Annual Policy Seminar
TRIO professionals from across the country gathered in Washington DC this March to
advocate for our programs at the Council for Opportunity in Education’s Annual Policy
Seminar.
Pictured below is the entire Texas TRIO team of over 40 advocates. Also pictured are
the staff members from UNT who attended, including two staff members from the Talent
Search team: Jacqueline Thomas and Gabriel Lira! We were also joined by Eva Silvia
Lozano from UNT Upward Bound, and Rebecca Werts, a Teaching Fellow at UNT and TRIO
alum.
A Talent Search Success Story
The day before the test,Zipol H., a student eager to improve his math skills, approached me with a request—he wanted
to join the upcoming testing block. Before leaving, he asked for a worksheet to study,
determined to give himself an extra edge. That night, he took his preparation seriously,
seeking help from two different instructors and watching TSI math videos to reinforce
his understanding.
On test day, Zipol arrived at 8:00 AM—30 minutes early—meticulously reviewing his
notes before the bootcamp session began. He made the most of the bootcamp, asking
questions whenever confusion arose. At10:15 AM, testing began, it was time to put his knowledge to work.
As the exam progressed, Zipol remained focused, but midway through, doubt started
creeping in. Ten questions into the 20-question test, he called me over and asked,"Is it possible to retake the test already? I don’t think I answered some of the questions
right."I reassured him to keep going and reminded him that we could discuss retesting if
necessary. Encouraged, he pushed forward.
While other students finished and submitted their paperwork, Zipol kept his head down,
determined to do his best. By1:05 PM, he reached the results screen. Unsure on what to do next, he called me over. His
score?976, the highest I’ve had in my bootcamp yet!
What made this accomplishment even more special was something we learned in the following
days—after discussing with counselors, we discovered that Zipol had faced challenges
taking tests in the past. His 976 on the Math TSI wasn’t just a passing score—it was
a personal victory over self-doubt and past challenges.
The following week, Talent Search proudly celebrated his achievement, awarding him
aT-shirt, a drawstring bag, and a Lucky the Squirrel plushas a token of recognition. When asked what he believed made the difference in his
success, Zipol had this to say:
"Just practice, don't be scared to ask for help, and always look over your notes."
Zipol’s journey is a powerful reminder that hard work pays off and that no challenge
is too big to overcome with dedication, preparation, and the right support.
UNT Talent Search Advisor, Gabriel Lira
$2 Million
Was awarded to our seniors through scholarship funds in 2024.
99%
Of our participants were promoted to the next grade level this semester.
98%
Of our Talent Search seniors will be attending a college or university this semester.
University of North Texas 
