Cal Poly Receives $1.55 Million for Upward Bound Program Grant Keeps Program Funded for Four More Years

SAN LUIS OBISPO – Cal Poly’s Upward Bound program was recently awarded a U.S. Department of Education grant of $1.55 million. Notification of the award came from Representative Lois Capps’ office on Friday, May 11.

With the four-year grant, Upward Bound, one of Cal Poly’s TRIO programs, will continue to motivate and prepare local low-income, first generation college bound, high school students to pursue a post-secondary education.

The Upward Bound academic outreach program and the residential summer school session at Cal Poly offer academic courses, Saturday colleges, tutoring, career advisement, supplemental instruction, cultural and other enrichment activities.

Schools participating in Cal Poly Upward Bound include Arroyo Grande High School, Nipomo High School, Ernest Righetti High School, Santa Maria High School and Pioneer Valley High School, as well as ten additional junior high and middle “feeder” schools.

Susan Sparling, director of Student Academic Services, and interim director of Cal Poly’s Upward Bound program, is excited that the 25-year-old program has received funding. “The grant competition is quite challenging and we feel honored to have again been selected,” Sparling said. “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.”

To learn more about Cal Poly’s Student Academic Services and TRIO programs, visit http://www.sas.calpoly.edu/

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