Upward Bound Math and Science program receives renewed $1.56M grant

The Upward Bound Math and Science (UBMS) program recently received a grant for $1,567,000 to help 69 first-generation, low-income students from the northern Arizona region succeed in high school and attend post-secondary education.

UBMS, a year-round college-prep academic outreach program, provides opportunities for freshmen and sophomore high school students interested in math and science careers to participate from their high schools throughout the school year, periodically visited by the NAU UBMS staff for assistance. Students who do well are encouraged to apply to the summer portion that offers classes at NAU and provides on-campus housing for four weeks.

“With the help of this grant, more students from the northern Arizona region will have access to academic advising, financial counseling and academic success in order to continue their education,” UBMS director Mark Despain said. “This program strives to ensure that students have every opportunity to be successful in their post-secondary institution, and this grant will allow us to continue to provide vital services necessary to help students from northern Arizona access and graduate from post-secondary opportunities for the next five years.”

The TRIO UBMS five-year grant is funded by the U.S. Department of Education and will allow the program to continue through August 2022.