BEMIDJI, Minn. (August 26, 2009) — Beginning in September, U.S. military veterans will be able to prepare themselves for a program of post-secondary education through a Veterans Upward Bound program at Bemidji State University.

The grant, which will fund the program at Bemidji State from Sept. 2009 through Aug. 2010, will be in the amount of $250,000. The U.S. Department of Education anticipates the grant will be for a total of four years, with additional funding coming to the Bemidji State program each fall through 2012.

The program, which will join the TRiO family of services at Bemidji State, includes a broad array of services to help veterans prepare for a program of higher education. In addition to intensive basic skills development and short-term remedial or refresher courses, other available services would include assistance in securing support services from other relevant local agencies, core curriculum instruction, personal and academic counseling, tutoring services, academic assistance in secondary school course selection, exposure to cultural events, academic programs and other educational activities, and individual mentoring programs.

Any military veteran, regardless of age, can participate in the program if he or she meets the eligibility requirements. Participants must be potential first-generation college students or low-income individuals who have a determined need for academic support.

Other colleges that received the grant include Boise State University, Georgia State University, Henderson State University, Suffolk University, Yavapai County (Ariz.) Community College and Redlands (Okla.) Community College.

The TRiO family of services at Bemidji State includes the Upward Bound and Student Support Services. Together, these programs bring in more than $1.1 million per year to benefit and assist eligible students.

For more information about the veteran’s grant program or about the TRiO family of services at Bemidji State University, please contact Kelli Steggall, assistant director of TRiO, at (218) 755-2504.

ON THE WEB
• TRiO/Upward Bound: http://www.bemidjistate.edu/students/services/upward_bound/
• U.S. Department of Education Upward Bound program: http://www.ed.gov/programs/trioupbound