Ryan ChartrandUpward Bound, a Cal Poly program which encourages low-income high school students to pursue post-secondary education, recently received a $1.55 million grant.
The grant, given by the U.S. Department of Education, will help local first generation college-bound students continue their education at Cal Poly. According to a press release, Upward Bound helps to offer “academic courses, Saturday colleges, tutoring, career advisement, supplemental instruction, cultural and other enrichment activities.”
“The grant covers all program costs, including program staff, plus academic and summer program services,” said Susan Sparling, director of Student Academic Services and interim director of Upward Bound, in an e-mail interview. “This includes tutoring at five high school sites, a six-week residential summer program at Cal Poly for 50 program participants, field trips, and Saturday colleges once a month during the school year.”
The grant will help Upward Bound fund 80 students for the upcoming four years. According to Sparling, the program has been well-funded for much of its history.
“Upward Bound has been in existence about 40 years, and Cal Poly has been accepted for a grant award every time we have applied in the past 25 years,” Sparling said.
Selected students come from one of several “feeder” schools, and must display an ability and desire to excel in post-secondary education.
“Students from the target high schools are eligible to appl,” Sparling said. They must meet the federally-defined low-income requirements, and be first-generation college bound students that are motivated to be academically-prepared to pursue a post secondary education. Along with the application, they are also interviewed.”
According to a press release, schools participating in the program are Arroyo Grande High School, Nipomo High School, Ernest Righetti High School, Santa Maria High School and Pioneer Valley High School. In addition, the program includes 10 additional junior high and middle “feeder” schools.
“The grant competition is quite challenging, and we feel honored to have again been selected,” Sparling said in a press release. “The award will provide academic year and summer program services for 80 selected students at the five target schools and will allow participants to successfully prepare for and enter higher education.”