Press Release

ARCURI ANNOUNCES $249,720 GRANT FOR MOHAWK VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Washington, DC -- Today, U.S. Representative Michael A. Arcuri (D-Utica) announced that the U.S. Department of Education has awarded the Mohawk Valley Community College (MVCC) a $249,720 Upward Bound Grant to provide academic support and outreach to students at Thomas R. Proctor High School in Utica.  Upward Bound Grants help high-risk, low-income students enter post-secondary education in higher numbers.

“As a graduate of Proctor High School, I know firsthand how important it is for students from families in Utica to have access to the resources and support necessary to pursue higher educational opportunities,” Arcuri said. “Access to higher education is critical in today’s constantly changing global economy. Oneida County Upward Bound is an invaluable service to students who may not come from families with a tradition of higher education or who struggle with school – making sure they have the tools to succeed in today’s marketplace.”

This grant will allow the Mohawk Valley Community College’s Oneida County Upward Bound project to address educational challenges facing 100 low-income potential first generation college students at Proctor High School through outreach, tutoring, support services and the involvement of family and community.

“In Congress I have made access to higher education a top priority – supporting legislation to cut in half the interest rates on federal subsidized student loans and increase Pell Grant awards,” Arcuri said.  “The Oneida Outward Bound program will bring federal resources right here to the Mohawk Valley to make sure local students have the best educational opportunities.”

This project will bring together several partners including Oneida County Workforce Development and the Workforce Investment Board, which will offer summer employment to enrich the academic support of tutors at MVCC and Proctor and make sure students have a year-round learning experience.

The Upward Bound program serves: high school students from low-income families; high school students from families in which neither parent holds a bachelor’s degree; and low-income, first-generation military veterans who are preparing to enter postsecondary education. The goal of Upward Bound is to increase the rate at which participants complete secondary education and enroll in and graduate from institutions of postsecondary education.

This is the first Upward Bound grant that Oneida has received.

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