The Southwestern Michigan College Board of Trustees, during its Aug. 20 meeting, accepted a $259,574 grant from the U.S. Department of Education for the Educational Talent Search (ETS) program. The grant is for the 2012-2013 school year.

The money is part of a five-year grant for $1.2 million that was awarded last year from the federal Department of Education. The program will receive funding through 2016.

“The ETS program is a tremendous educational resource within our community,” SMC President David Mathews said. “SMC’s program was awarded continued funding because of its documented success of serving disadvantaged middle and high school students.”

The ETS program is part of the federal TRIO programs, aimed at assisting individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds toward success in higher education.

The program at SMC provides academic, career and financial counseling to participants identified as having the potential to succeed in higher education if they receive additional supportive services.

ETS services include tutoring, assistance with college entrance exams and applications and exposure to college campuses around the region.

SMC’s ETS program serves 700 middle and high school students from the Cassopolis, Dowagiac, Edwardsburg, Marcellus and Brandywine school districts.