Kansas City Kansas Community College has been awarded $1.4 million by the U.S. Department of Education to implement the Upward Bound program. The grant begins in fall 2022 and will continue through August 2027.
“Being awarded the Upward Bound grant allows Kansas City Kansas Community College to expand services into schools to help those students who need it the most. These expanded services, built around intensive and intentional academic and student support services, will help increase high school graduation rates and college preparedness,” said Dr. Greg Mosier, president of KCKCC. “The Upward Bound program expands KCKCC’s ability to positively impact workforce needs and educational readiness of underserved students in our community.”
The Upward Bound program serves low-income and potential first-generation college students with the goal of preparing participants for college. Students receive comprehensive academic assistance and overall support for students and families, including advising, tutoring, study skills workshops, test taking support and college and financial aid application assistance.
“The Upward Bound program is an opportunity to prepare students in Wyandotte County for college – students who may not have otherwise even dreamed of what they could do beyond high school,” said Dr. Shawn Derritt, dean of student services at KCKCC. “At KCKCC, we strive to help all of our students succeed and work to provide them with the tools and skills necessary to achieve their goals.”
The grant will support 60 high school students each year from Schlagle and Washington high schools in the Kansas City, Kansas, School District. The focus for these students will be to improve academic performance, graduation rates and college readiness.
- Story from Kelly Rogge, KCKCC public information manager