UC Davis Receives Five Department of Labor Educational Talent Search Grants

The School of Education has received five new federal Educational Talent Search (ETS) grants totaling $1.6 million. These five-year grants will support continued and expanded work of ETS branches in Sacramento, Solano, Yolo, and Shasta counties.

UC Davis Educational Talent Search serves Northern California students in grades 6–12 who plan to continue their education after high school and need additional resources to reach their goals. Two-thirds of these students come from families that have a demonstrated financial need or that have two parents who haven’t completed a four-year college degree. UC Davis has been administering ETS programs since 1994.

The latest grants will allow the ETS team to reach more students across the North State, said Samuel Blanco III, director of Pre-College TRIO Programs for UC Davis. “There are so many students who need these services,” he said. “They really look to our advisors to help them with college applications, financial aid, scholarships, and letters of recommendation.”

More Pathways After High School

Beginning with this grant cycle, updated program guidelines from the Department of Labor require that students receive guidance on various career pathways—including Career Technical Education and apprenticeships—as well as college preparation. This is an expansion from the previous ETS model, which focused on increasing rates of school persistence, high school graduation with a regular diploma, meeting A–G requirements so that students are eligible to apply to California State University or University of California, and college graduation. 

ETS participants will engage in activities and services like academic enrichment, career exploration, college tours, and high-impact tutoring. “Our program will serve as an entryway into the workforce, providing students with opportunities to explore career pathways of interest,” said Car Mun Kok, director of College Opportunity Programs. “Our staff will work with district CTE programs and local workforce boards to identify career opportunities, such as healthcare and information technology, that align with local priorities.”

By encouraging high schoolers to explore various career pathways, ETS will help address the North State’s growing need for qualified workers in healthcare and the trades. As of 2025, California’s Northern and Sierra regions faced a projected 25% shortage of nurses. Public safety and transportation—some of the region’s fastest-growing industries—also require a large workforce to keep up with operational demands.

Whether students pursue college or a career after high school, ETS Shasta director Angela Radford wants their biggest takeaway to be that they have the tools needed to bring their plans to life. “We give students an underlying hope that they can take hold of their lives,” she said. “Despite their circumstances, despite what everyone’s telling them, they can get to where they want to go.”

“We want our students to break out of generational challenges,” said Kok. “To experience the world, deepen their perspectives, and achieve financial independence.”

Support that Comes Full Circle

ETS advisors work alongside teachers and counselors through partnerships with local districts and community organizations, providing additional time and resources to address individual students’ needs. “We can go further, faster to help students get what they need,” said Radford.

For ETS alumna Mia Muñoz, that support extended beyond high school. Muñoz had worked closely with advisor Jennifer Gama to prepare for the SAT and submit college applications. Then, the summer before she was slated to attend college, a sudden change in family circumstances disrupted her financial aid plans.

Even though Muñoz had already completed the ETS program, she knew she could turn to her former advisor for guidance. Gama connected Muñoz and her mother with university services that helped her update her financial aid documents and apply for a Pell Grant, which she ultimately received. “I wouldn’t have known what to do or even where the financial aid office was without Jenny’s help,” Muñoz said. “I was no longer part of the ETS program, but I was still able to rely on them for support. They helped me transition to college and get on the path to where I am today.”

Muñoz earned her bachelor’s degree in child development at UC Davis, and after graduation secured a UC Davis career staff position at as a contracts and grants specialist at the School of Education. In this role, she supports her colleagues who manage ETS funding, and she feels honored to contribute to the program that helped her pursue her education.

Muñoz’s experience with ETS also equipped her to support younger family members. When her cousins began applying to college, she shared what she had learned and supported them to navigate the same processes her advisors had helped her understand. “I’m fortunate to be in the position that I am because of ETS, and I owe them my college and working careers,” Muñoz said.