Palo Alto College receives $1.54 million grant for TRiO Upward Bound program
By: PAC Public Relations
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Palo Alto College has received a $1.54 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to continue the College’s existing TRiO Upward Bound Program for five years, effective September 2012, U.S. Rep. Francisco Canseco announced. The program’s four target schools are located in Atascosa County – Lytle High School, Jourdanton High School, Pleasanton High School and Poteet High School.
Palo Alto College’s TRiO Upward Bound Program has served over 70 students per year since the program launched in 1999. The program is designed to generate the academic skills and motivation necessary for students to successfully graduate from high school and then complete a post-secondary education program.
Upward Bound serves high school students from low-income families, and high school students from families in which neither parent holds a bachelor's degree. The goal of Upward Bound is to increase the rate at which participants complete secondary education and enroll in and graduate from institutions of postsecondary education. The program provides diverse activities and a comprehensive curriculum throughout the year that address the educational, social, emotional, cultural, and recreational needs of participants.
“We’re thankful for the continued support from the U.S. Department of Education, which will allow us to promote postsecondary access to Atascosa County youth and their families,” said Dr. Michael Flores, Vice President of Student Affairs at Palo Alto College.
In the Department of Education’s first round of notifications for this funding cycle (2012-2017), 780 programs out of 1,500 applicants received funding. Of the 1,500 applicants, an estimated 233 currently funded programs did not have their funding renewed.
Upward Bound is one of eight U.S. Department of Education TRiO programs designed to identify and provide services for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, enabling individuals to progress academically into a postsecondary education. For more information about TriO programs, visit http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/trio/index.html.
The grant was publicized by the San Antonio Express-News, by La Prensa, and by Univision.