Deanna Nelson is senior director of development at Avila University and helped write the grant. "Upward Bound is a game changer, a life changer," said Nelson. "This grant will allow Avila to partner with the Kansas City Public Schools to prepare even more students for college. Research shows that these programs are extremely successful in getting low-income and first- generation students to pursue higher education. This Upward Bound grant will benefit the students who participate and the community as a whole."
(September 8, 2017) KANSAS CITY, MO – Avila University’s Upward Bound program has received a generous new federal grant from the Department of Education. The grant totals $1.4 million over the next five years and will make it possible to serve 60 additional students from Northeast High School and Central High School in Kansas City, MO.
Upward Bound provides fundamental support to student participants in their preparation for college entrance. The program provides opportunities for students to succeed in their pre-college performance and ultimately in their higher education pursuits. Upward Bound serves both high school students from low-income families and students from families in which neither parent holds a bachelor's degree.