Academic Talent Search
Contact Us
Veronica Hurtado
Director, Special Programs
hurtado_veronica@sac.edu
(714) 564-6182
Stephanie Lopez
Administrative Clerk
lopez_stephanie@sac.edu
(714) 564-6182
Location: JSC-209
Hours of Operation:
Monday - Thursday: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Friday: 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Program Services

The Santa Ana College Academic Talent Search Program is funded through the U.S. Department of Education. The goal of the program is to encourage and assist low-income students who have the potential to be the first generation in their family to receive a post-secondary education. We offer services to four high schools and four intermediate schools in the Santa Ana Unified School District. The schools we serve include Century High School, Saddleback High School, Santa Ana High School, and Valley High School, Heninger Elementary, Sierra Preparatory Academy, Willard Intermediate and Lathrop Intermediate.
Our services are free to participants and include the following:
- Academic Advising
- Career Planning and Exploration
- SAT/ACT Registration Assistance
- College Application Assistance
- University/College Field Trips
- Cultural Presentations and Field Trips
- Financial Aid and Scholarship Assistance
- After School Workshops
- Parent Meetings
- Rising Senior Summer Academy (for High School Juniors)
- Intermediate Summer STEM Program
- Guest Speakers and much more
Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for the Academic Talent Search program, students must meet the following criteria:
- Must be enrolled in one of the following schools:
High Schools: Century, Saddleback, Santa Ana, and Valley
Intermediate Schools: Heninger, Lathrop, Sierra, and Willard
- Be a first-generation student (neither parent has earned a bachelor’s degree).
- Meet low-income guidelines adopted by the U.S. Department of Education.
- S. Citizen, permanent resident or in the process of becoming a citizen or resident.
- Maintain at least a 2.0 GPA.