The University of North Georiga recently received a five-year renewal of two $1.4 million grants for its Upward Bound program, which helps first-generation and underserved high school students prepare for college.
The program, which partners with Johnson High School in Hall County and Gilmer High School in Gilmer County, recently took 30 students to the San Francisco area to visit several colleges. Visits included Stanford University, the University of California-Berkeley, California State University, East Bay and other sites in the region.
The grant renewal from the U.S. Department of Education runs through Aug. 31, 2027.
"We are pleased that both UB programs were renewed for an additional five years to continue supporting students and their families in Hall and Gilmer counties. During the first grant award, UB staff worked continuously to increase program visibility and awareness, retention and postsecondary enrollment," Dr. Latrice Richardson, UNG's director of Pre-College Access Grant Programs, said. "In this new grant cycle, we look forward to building on our successes and overcoming the myriad challenges so that more TRIO-eligible students have greater access to colleges and universities of their choosing."
Richardson said they are able to serve 60 participants in each school on a yearly basis. The program's main priority is helping first-generation or income-eligible students pursue a post-secondary degree. The program assists 9th to 12th-grade students, but students can enter the program at any time.
"No matter what time you enter into the program, if it's your sophomore year or if you come in as an 11th grader, we're with you after graduation and beyond," Richardson said. "We don't just want to send you to college, we want to make sure you are successful there."
Upward Bound provides twice-a-week tutoring, ACT and SAT preparation as well as a summer institute.
Jasmin Partida, a senior at Johnson High School, said participating in the program helped her prepare for college.
"Before, I felt like I wouldn't get far because I didn't have that support. But I have that support now," Partida said. "I know that I will get far. I just have to reach out for that help and know it's there for me."
More information about Upward Bound can be found here.
