CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Marshalltown native Danielle Garth is the new Gear Up Coach at MHS, a position that will allow her to connect with youth much like her younger self: low-income and the first generation to go to college.

Danielle Garth grew up in Marshalltown, attending school in the district from grades K-12, but she never envisioned once she graduated from high school that college would be part of her plan.

While at MHS, she got connected with Iowa State University’s TRIO Talent Search (ETS) college preparatory program and her eyes were opened to new possibilities. Now, she’s returned to her hometown to serve as Gear Up Coach at MHS, a position that will allow her to connect with youth much like her younger self: low-income and the first generation to go to college.

“That program is the reason I went to college and decided to go back to the Marshalltown school district,” she said. “Without that program, I wouldn’t have made it to where I am today.”

She credits Janelle Seward’s mentorship as what inspired her success. She then moved into the TRIO SSS (Student Support Services) program in college, which helped her fund her college education. Its objective is to increase the college retention and graduation rates of its participants.

Garth attended MCC for two years then transferred to ISU where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Child, Adult and Family Services. This May, she completed her master’s degree in Student Affairs and Higher Education — an accomplishment that exceeded her initial goals.

“I went to school completely for free. I worked half time, and that assisted. And I got a scholarship through the grad college,” she explained.

Garth honed leadership skills at ISU through her work as a soft skills coach for Student Accessibility Services; with DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) for campus life; and as an on-campus apartment director.

In 2020, she was one of 52 people and four organizations inducted into the Susan M. Daniels Disability Mentoring Hall of Fame through the National Disability Mentoring Coalition (NDMC).

In her role at MHS, she’ll work with pupils to help them apply for financial aid and formulate a career plan, starting the conversation about life after high school. She wants to serve as a mentor showing students, especially those of color, what’s available beyond what they may have grown up believing was achievable.

“I knew right away I had to apply to this position when I saw it, because it’s a perfect fit. It’s a job I studied for,” she said.

Her office at MHS will have drop-in hours, plus she will lead workshops for students and families. She will also lead college and trade school visits within the state of Iowa.

Garth said the college application process is ever changing and can be intimidating. She wants to serve as an “open door” — a resource — that could dramatically impact a student’s future for the better.

“Using their unique backgrounds to find scholarships is something that’s very important to me. A lot of students don’t know what’s out there. They’re just looking for the main ones,” she said. “Even a $500 scholarship will go a long way.”

Her hobbies include reading, hanging out with her family and dog and cheering on the Iowa State Cyclones.

She may be reached at: dgarth@marshalltown.k12.ia.us.

TRIO Talent Search serves 1,000 students in grades 6 through 12 across five central Iowa school districts. Schools served include Fort Dodge, Hampton-Dumont, Marshalltown, Perry and South Tama County. To learn more, visit: www.trio.iastate.edu/talentsearch-home.