Congressman Mike Conaway - 11th District of Texas

Contact: Anna Koch 202.225.3605

Washington, May 14, 2007 - Today, Congressman Mike Conaway (R-TX) announced that Western Texas College in Snyder has received a grant for their Upward Bound program in the amount of $250,000.

“As a former member of the Midland Independent School District Board of Trustees, I understand the difficulties our educators face in providing the best quality education to our children,” said Conaway. “I am a strong supporter of grant programs like the Upward Bound program. They have a proven track record in District 11, and I will continue to work to see that they remain intact.”

The Upward Bound program offers support to students in preparation for college entrance. The program provides opportunities for students to succeed in their pre-college performance and ultimately in their higher education pursuits.

Upward Bound serves high school students from:

· High school students from low-income families

· High school students from families in which neither parent holds a bachelor's degree

· 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 students complete secondary education and enroll in and graduate from institutions of postsecondary education.

For more information on the Upward Bound program, you may visit http://www.ed.gov/programs/trioupbound/index.html.