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The Utica Campus of �²��� has been awarded more than $5.1 million for four Upward Bound Programs for the next five years. The grant will provide more than $1 million per year, beginning Sept. 1, 2017, to help fund the program that will target students in grades 9 – 12 at the following high schools: Crystal Springs, Hazlehurst, Raymond, Terry, Vicksburg, Warren Central, Forest Hill in Jackson and Wingfield in Jackson.

“We are very excited to partner with feeder school districts to assist with increasing state test scores, increasing graduation rates and increasing the number of students entering postsecondary institutions,” said Vice President Dr. Debra Mays-Jackson. “This will definitely help to establish a strong pipeline for both our academic and career and technical programs on the Utica Campus or entrance to other colleges or universities.”

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

“As a product of the Upward Bound program that was once on the Utica Campus, I truly understand the importance of the program, so it was my goal while writing the grants to include as many schools and students that I could,” said Dr. Mitchell Shears, executive director of Title III & Sponsored Grants. “I was very excited to know that we submitted favorable proposals that reviewers felt would impact families in this area for the next five years.”

Together, the programs will serve a minimum of 240 participants who are from low-income families, potential first-generation college students and/or individuals who have a high risk for academic failure. The programs will consist of an academic year component and a six-week summer component that will provide academic instruction in mathematics, laboratory sciences, composition, literature, foreign languages and other educational and cultural experiences.

[tweetable alt=””]�²��� CC Utica Campus receives grant for Upward Bound.[/tweetable]

�²��� is celebrating its 100^th year of Community Inspired Service in 2017. �²��� opened in September 1917 first as an agricultural high school and admitted college students for the first time in 1922, with the first class graduating in 1927. In 1982 �²��� Junior College and Utica Junior College merged, creating the �²��� District. Today, as Mississippi’s largest community college, �²��� is a comprehensive institution with six locations. �²��� offers quality, affordable educational opportunities with academic programs of study leading to seamless university transfer and career and technical programs teaching job-ready skills. To learn more, visit or call 1.800.�²���CC.