HOUGHTON, N.Y. —The U.S. Department of Education has awarded $295,000 per year for four years to Houghton College’s Upward Bound program.

“Renewal of the Upward Bound grant will allow us to continue to provide many high school students with an opportunity to expand their horizons and view attending college as a realistic and achievable dream,” said Sharon Hibbard, director of the Upward Bound program at Houghton.

Upward Bound provides academic support and enrichment, life skill development, cultural activities, and career exploration to students from 12 schools in Allegany and Cattaraugus counties to prepare them for college entrance.

The goal of the program is to increase the rate at which participants complete secondary education and enroll in and graduate from institutions of postsecondary education. This is accomplished through weekly tutoring, monthly academic and cultural events, and a six week simulated college experience on the Houghton College campus. Participants are recruited in eighth and ninth grade and continue in the program until their high school graduation.

Participants receive advice and instruction on the college application process and the financial aid application process, as well as on how to choose a college and career.  In the 11^th and 12^th grade summers, students are eligible to take four college classes and do a paid internship as continued college/career preparation.

The Upward Bound program at Houghton is a federally funded program through the U.S. Department of Education TRIO programs established under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965.

Houghton received its first grant for its Upward Bound program in 1992. This grant has been renewed each grant cycle. The current award will help to serve 57 students.