YOU Inc. has been awarded a $1 million, four-year grant from the U.S. Department of Education for a three-way partnership aimed at helping low-income students in Southbridge public schools go to college. Nichols College in Dudley is also involved.

Coined Southbridge Upward Bound, up to 50 freshmen at Southbridge High School, whose parents did not attend college, will be targeted. Sophomores may also benefit from the partnership, according to School Superintendent Dale M. Hanley.

During summers, the high school students will live at Nichols College for a six-week academic enrichment, to take courses and get the flavor of college life, Ms. Hanley said.

Youth Opportunities Upheld, a family counseling service with an office at 52 Charlton St., has a number of facilities and programs throughout the region. Its main office is on Plantation Street in Worcester.

YOU Inc. officials will manage the grant and hire staff to work with the students, according to Owen Ryan, the Southbridge site director. The partnership is modeled after the Bruce Wells Scholars Program, which involves Worcester students and Clark University, Mr. Ryan said.

“The whole point of this is to get kids excited — that ‘I, too, can get to college,’ ” he said.

U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Springfield, was credited by local officials for his advocacy. Mr. Neal attended a press conference in Southbridge yesterday during which the program was announced.

“As usual, he’s delivering to the Central and Western part of Massachusetts,” School Committee Vice Chairman Scott S. Lazo said. Mr. Neal has “been unbelievable” to Southbridge, “on the rail trail, on grants like this. He’s brought the bacon home to Southbridge once again.”

Mr. Neal said in an interview, “I’ve stayed at it for them. I’m happy to do it.”

The announcement “highlights the role that the federal government plays as far as offering some assistance, but leaving decision-making with local officials,” Mr. Neal added. “It’s a great partnership, and they did a very good job with their application.”

Ms. Hanley credited YOU Inc.’s Kristen Mayotte and Gaelyn Hastings with successfully writing the grant: “They joined our team and adopted our vision for the success of the kids in Southbridge.”

Information from: www.telegram.com

This entry was posted by Taman Siswa on Saturday, June 2, 2007 at 4:04 am and is filed under College Grant, Education News. Tags: College, Education News, Grant, Student, . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.