by PegNews wire

Students will get help with tests, filling out forms, choosing careers, social skills, and on-campus work-study programs.

Tarrant County College has been awarded $750,000 from the Department of Education to provide academic support and college preparatory activities for students at four Fort Worth area high schools. The funding comes through the department’s Upward Bound program and is part of $19,979,022 awarded to Texas colleges and universities.

The TCC Upward Bound Program will consist of an academic and summer component.

During the academic component, students from Paschal, O. D. Wyatt, South Hills high schools in Fort Worth and Everman High School in Everman will be provided after-school tutoring at their respective schools to help them prepare for PSAT, SAT, ACT, and TAKS tests. They will also receive assistance with completion of college admission, financial aid, and scholarship applications.

To aid students in the selection of college majors and career paths, TCC will provide career exploration sessions featuring speakers from the community in varying professions.

During the summer component, TCC will host a six-week program from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on its South Campus, 5301 Campus Drive, which will offer academic instruction in English, math, science, foreign language, drama, music and physical education. Participants will also receive social skills training and take part in cultural enrichment activities, college transfer trips and student enrichment workshops.

The summer component also includes a work-study program in which the high school juniors and seniors will work on campus during the afternoon.

“The TRIO programs, of which Upward Bound is a component, were created to provide hope and educational opportunity for first-generation, low-income students as well as students with disabilities,” said TCC TRIO Director Sharron Crear. “This is an excellent opportunity for TCC to demonstrate to the community that as an institution of higher education we are committed to providing hope and opportunity to all. In doing so, we prepare stronger leaders for the future and an informed, educated workforce to meet the demands of our ever-changing society.”

The Upward Bound Program is designed to generate the skills and motivation necessary in program participants to complete a program of secondary education and to enter and succeed in a program of postsecondary education. It primarily benefits high school students from low-income families, those from families in which neither parent holds a bachelor’s degree and those from low-income, first-generation military veterans who are preparing to enter postsecondary education.

Source: Tarrant County College