SANFORD - Central Carolina Community College has received two new Upward Bound TRiO grants to serve students in Harnett and Lee counties.

One of the grants will serve 60 students in Harnett County, and the other grant will serve 60 students in Lee County. Each grant is for approximately $257,400 per year for five years, making the total amount of new funding received just under $2.6 million over the next five years. The grants are in addition to an already existing Upward Bound Math and Science program, which currently serves 62 students in Harnett County, as well as a Veterans Upward Bound program and two Student Support Services programs.

Aaron Fleming, Superintendent of Harnett County Schools, and Dr. Andy Bryan, Superintendent of Lee County Schools, both expressed their pleasure about the new grants.

"This grant will allow our students to gain more opportunities to ensure they are successful as they take on a college degree," said Fleming.

"Sixty of our students will have the opportunity to improve their academic performance thanks to the Upward Bound grant," said Dr. Bryan. "It's exciting to see anytime our students have the opportunity to improve their academics and prepare themselves for life after high school and future success."

These new grants and new programs will triple the number of low-income and future first-generation college students the college is serving in the local community, going from about 60 to over 180. Objectives of the program are to improve academic performance (GPA and standardized test scores), secondary school retention and graduation, completion of rigorous secondary school program of study, postsecondary enrollment, and postsecondary completion. The ultimate goal of the Upward Bound program is to increase the rate at which participants complete secondary education and enroll in and graduate from institutions of postsecondary education.

"CCCC is dedicated to student access and removing barriers to students enrolling in college and graduating," said Dr. Brian Merritt, CCCC Vice President of Learning & Workforce Development. "Over the past five years, Upward Bound has become a strong part of how we serve our communities, and this new funding will help expand our efforts. We appreciate our high school partnerships and the collaborative and innovative ways we work together to support our students."

The Upward Bound (UB) program is one of the Federal TRiO Programs, which are outreach and student services programs designed to identify and provide services for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds. TRiO programs emerged out of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 in response to the administration's War on Poverty. Upward Bound was the first TRiO program to be created, and TRiO now includes eight programs operated by the U.S. Department of Education targeted to serve and assist low-income individuals, first-generation college students, and individuals with disabilities to progress through the academic pipeline from middle school to postbaccalaureate programs.

Currently there are over 800 Upward Bound programs nationwide serving more than 60,000 participants, with 20 UB programs in North Carolina. The Upward Bound program at Central Carolina Community College serves students from Harnett County and Lee County high schools in grades 9 through 12.

"CCCC's College Access Programs department is thrilled to have the opportunity to bring two new Upward Bound programs to the local community, and most importantly, to serve more students by preparing them for college," said Ashley Tittemore, CCCC Executive Director of College Access Programs and Director of Upward Bound Math and Science. "We have seen the immense impact that our Upward Bound Math and Science program has had over the last five years on students in Harnett County, and we are looking forward to bringing additional cohorts of students into the program and helping them achieve their college dreams."

Central Carolina Community College's Upward Bound programs are currently seeking applications from rising, 9th, 10th, and 11th grade students in both Harnett and Lee counties.

For more information about the Upward Bound TRiO program at Central Carolina Community College, people can call 919-718-7463 or email ub@cccc.edu.