A $1.2 million federal grant to Front Range Community College will assist Westminster High School students in their college-entrance preparation.
FRCC staff will serve 60 WHS students annually under the five-year TRIO Upward Bound (UB) grant from the U.S. Department of Education. Upward Bound serves high school students who have a desire to pursue postsecondary education and are from low-income families or are a potential first-generation student.
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. FRCC’s program will address low academic achievement and high socioeconomic barriers that UB-eligible students face as they prepare to enter postsecondary education.
FRCC UB will provide services including academic instruction, tutoring, mentoring, cultural enrichment, and education on financial literacy. Participants also will receive individual guidance for personal, career, and academic matters as well as participate in a six-week summer program at FRCC’s Westminster Campus where participants receive classroom instruction, participate in social and cultural events, learn leadership skills, and connect with peer participants.
FRCC will work with WHS staff to identify students eligible for the program, which starts Sept. 1.
Aaron Prestwich, dean of student affairs at the Westminster Campus, will oversee the operations involved with the grant, which will provide funding for a TRIO UB director, academic coordinator, and an administrative assistant. Prestwich brought TRIO experience with him when he joined FRCC in 2013 and helped jump-start another TRIO program, Student Support Services, in 2015. The program supports services for current FRCC students.
“We are thrilled to continue building our strong TRIO culture by adding another TRIO program at FRCC,” Prestwich said. “We look forward to partnering with Westminster High School in our joint effort of helping WHS students successfully pursue and prepare for their postsecondary pursuits. TRIO Upward Bound has a rich history and has proven to make a difference for thousands of high schools students across the country.”
About Front Range Community College
FRCC offers nearly 100 degree and certificate programs from locations in Boulder County, Larimer County, Westminster, and Brighton, and online. FRCC is a member of the Colorado Community College System.
About the Colorado Community College System
The Colorado Community College System (CCCS) is the state’s largest system of higher education, serving more than 144,000 students annually at 13 colleges and 39 locations across Colorado. Our open access mission ensures all Coloradans who aspire to enrich their lives have access to quality higher education opportunities. CCCS students save time and money with affordable tuition and fees, concurrent enrollment, and guaranteed transfer to any public university in Colorado. Online courses are available via Colorado Community Colleges Online. CCCS also oversees career and technical programs in our 13 colleges, more than 160 school districts, and six other post-secondary institutions. By partnering with business and industry, CCCS helps employers meet workforce needs and prepares students for direct entry to their chosen career pathway. The vast majority of our students are Colorado residents and, after graduation, 97 percent of our students stay in state, becoming the workforce that powers the Colorado economy and the heart of our neighborhoods, businesses, and communities.
