Team Success Scholars (TSS) is designed for Student Success. Supporting students from traditionally underserved populations, we help young adults who are attending college for the first time to successfully navigate the college experience, and to achieve their educational and career goals.  Check us out on Instagram and Facebook!

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Our Success speaks for itself. With an average cohort size of 25, Team Success Scholars:

  • Are more likely to stay in college
  • Earn on average a higher GPA of 2.90
  • Finish English and Math coursework sooner
  • Obtain at least one Workplace Recognized Credential
  • Complete an Internship Experience
  • Complete a Service Learning project
  • Upwards of 80% graduate with an Associates Degree
  • Graduate on average in 2.5 years
  • Greater than 90% transfer on to a 4-year university

We are looking for gritty young adults who want to take charge of their future. Success can be You! Take the next step and apply today!

APPLY HERE 2024 application is opened!

Supporting Documents: We will email you a list of required documents

Deadline to Apply: May 31st

Interviews: June

Notification date: Mid July


HOW TO APPLY

Complete the online application by the May 31st deadline. All supporting documents must be submitted to complete the application packet. Incomplete applications will not move forward for consideration.

Documents to be collected include:

  • High School Diploma (or GED)
  • Social Security Card
  • Birth Certificates
  • Paystubs
  • State issued ID
  • Disability Documentation (if applicable)

*Please note that this is a federally funded grant, and document collecting is a mandatory step in your application.


WHAT THE TSS PROGRAM OFFERS

As a member of Team Success Scholars, students benefit from a holistic support system that focuses on personal development and academic and career success. The tightly-knit cohort of students are engaged on campus with faculty, staff and student activities, and in their communities as young professionals. As recognized leaders, TSSers are routinely asked to speaker before groups and to act as ambassadors to the college and the TSS program. Through these opportunities TSS students develop a robust network of professional contacts and enrich their professional portfolio.

Career Guidance

TSS helps students to develop their own career pathway toward an associate’s degree, including earning at least one workplace recognized credential, ultimately helping them to secure a better job and economic security. Workplace credentials may include Security Officer certificate, OSHA 9 certification, CNA certification, EMT certification or ServSafe certification. All training costs are supporting by the TSS program. Upon completion of training and certification, we assist students with securing employment utilizing the credential.

Internships & Employment

All TSS students are required to work during their time in the program. We offer internships at $18/hr both on and off campus. Students can work up to 20 hours per week during the semester and up to 35 hours per week over the winter and summer breaks. TSSers have interned at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital, HO Products, American Mural Project, Five Points Gallery, Torrington Historical Society, Salvation Army of Winsted, Ed Advance Day Support Program, Prime Time House, The American Tort Law Museum, Town of Winsted, Dolly’s Doggy Daycare, to name a few.

Mentoring

Students meet weekly for individualized sessions focusing on any barriers the students may be facing, and facilitating an action plan for positive resolution. Actionable items may include meeting with a professor, going to tutoring, pro-active advising, meeting with our study coach, visiting the campus food pantry, reaching out to a campus or community professional, or financial assistance. We encourage self-resolution with facilitated guidance.

 

Professional Development

We have a dedicated TSS room on campus where students engage in learning cohorts, peer tutoring, individual study time, and weekly TSS Workshops. The room is open and accessible whenever the campus is open, supporting faculty and peer connections, socializing, and sometimes simply downtime. We also hold two TSS Leadership Retreats off campus, encouraging leadership training, teamwork and cohort building. Weekly TSS Workshop include topics such as:

  • Financial literacy
  • Career focused Panel discussions
  • Community Action Planning
  • Developing your Personal Brand – LinkedIn, Social media & You
  • Resume writing & Interview Preparation
  • Virtual Savvy & Dress for Success
  • Scholarship writing
  • Mental Health

Campus & Community Engagement

Our students regularly attend statewide, national and international conferences and volunteering experiences. TSSers regularly are part of:

Financial Support

TSS offers financial resources and guidance to students facing economic challenges. Financial support addresses individual needs, which may include costs for books, transportation, eyeglasses, professional clothes, credentialing costs, food, rent or housing. The program also supports students wishing to train and earn workplace recognized credentials as part of their career plans, assisting with tuition, books and supply costs.

 

Civic Engagement

All TSSers are involved in yearlong Community Action Planning (CAP) projects, addressing a need in the community and assisting the stakeholder with developing a sustainable solution. Working in partnership with Quinnipiac University, students meet at least twice a year to collaborate on projects and share successes. Past projects have included planting and landscaping for elder care and veteran centers, understanding and addressing food insecurity, improving police and student relations, and addressing the access and equity in education. Ongoing projects include “The Mosaic Project“, a collaborative effort with the Torrington Historical Society to develop an online space to document and celebrate the diversity of the immigrants who have chosen to call Torrington home.

What TSSers are Saying

Video produced by Erin Sullivan, NCCC May ’21 graduate & TSS alum

Being a part of Team Success Scholars gave me the opportunity to be more involved on campus and taught me several life lessons.The workshops taught me how to properly write a resume, apply for jobs, get out of my comfort zone, and communicate with my professors and faculty. The TSS Leadership Retreat forced me to be out of my comfort zone and do things I never thought I would do, such as zip lining. After being in the TSS program for 3 years, I was able to job shadow at The Jackson Laboratory last summer. This experience helped me to get hired at my current job at Dymax, which I have been trying to work at for years. Being in Team Success Scholars has greatly impacted my experience at NCCC and helped me to achieve my goals.” – Cynthia Pitcher, May 2020 graduate

“Team Success Scholars has helped me find myself and become someone that I have always dreamed to be. It has pushed me to be the best version of myself. Team Success Scholars is not only there to help you succeed – it’s a family that is there for support when you feel as if you can’t succeed.” – Sarah Kruse, May 2020 graduate

The Team Success Scholars program provides me with many great opportunities to give back to my community, and to acquire useful job experiences for my future.  I have been able to be a part of many events that are deeply important to me. I was able to have a voice for my Hispanic community by speaking before the Legislative Budget Appropriations Committee Hearing in Hartford. I have been able to volunteer and provide food for the people who need it most in our community through NCCC’s CT Food Bank Mobile Food Pantry. I am very grateful for this program .” – David Castillo, 1st year Business Administration major

TSS has helped me an extreme amount through my time here. I would wager without it I would have dropped out a long time ago if it wasn’t for the support I received from TSS. I owe my internship and international experience to this program. Team Success Scholars has instilled a sense of urgency in me; I felt I was capable of doing much more than just taking classes at the college.” – Tommy Le,  May 2020 graduate


 

Team Success Scholars is a Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) youth funded program, administered through the Northwest Regional Workforce Investment Board. Additional funding is provided by Northwest Community Bank of Winsted CT.

Contact Jessie DePonte, Program Director of Team Success Scholars, by email at jdeponte@nwcc.edu or call 860.738.6348. or
Contact Maggie Sullivan, Program Assistant of Team Success Scholars, by email at msullivan@nwcc.commnet.edu or call 860-738-6361.