BOONE—Appalachian State University’s Upward Bound program has received a $1 million grant from U.S. Department of Education to increase and augment math and science preparation for first generation, low-income  students from Wilkes, Watauga, Avery, Ashe, Burke and Alleghany counties.

The four-year grant will serve as many as 50 students in the 9^th-11^th grades annually through the Upward Bound Math/Science Program.

“This is an important priority for our country,” said Teri Carter, director of Appalachian’s Upward Bound programs. She added that President Obama’s recent State of the Union address focused on the goal of increasing the number of college graduates in the sciences, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines. “We are pleased to be able to offer this opportunity for students from the western North Carolina region to further enhance their math and science education.”

Students selected for the program will receive weekly tutoring; academic counseling; classroom instruction; vocabulary and other enrichment activities; college entrance exam preparation; study skills workshops; social, cultural and personal development activities; educational reward trips; and a comprehensive six-week summer component that includes extensive coursework and allows students to live on campus and adapt to the college environment.

Upward Bound is an academic support program funded by the U. S. Department of Education’s TRIO Programs division. The program, begun in 1965, is designed to provide the necessary support for families who meet federal income guidelines and/or first generation high school students to complete high school, enroll in college, and successfully obtain a four-year college degree.

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