$40,000 NEO Upward Bound STEM grant

The Upward Bound program at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College (NEO) in Miami will receive a $40,000 Department of Education grant to support science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) learning.

This one-time supplemental grant will provide monthly computer programming courses for participants, offer several paid internships during the summer Upward Bound Academy, and assist in the purchase of a mobile computer lab.

Upward Bound is a federally-funded TRIO program. The program focuses on low-income students, students whose parents did not attend college, and students from rural areas.

Newly-appointed Upward Bound Director Dawn Compton says NEO’s program has had tremendous success over the past five years, with 93% of the students achieving the primary objective of maintaining academic performance by earning a 2.5 grade point average or higher.

Cpmpton says 96 percent of NEO Upward Bound students score “proficient” or higher on their standardized tests. She says every participant in the program has successfully graduated high school.

“My favorite part of Upward Bound so far has been meeting with students from area high schools,” Compton stated. “We have about 70 participants in the program and I am meeting with each of them one-one-one to help them set goals for the spring. I am supported by a great Upward Bound team.”

For more information about the Upward Bound program at NEO, contact Compton at dacompt@neo.edu.