When this year, for the first time in 45 years, Wesleyan University in Middletown lost funding from the federal Department of Education to run its Upward Bound program, Local stakeholders (businesses and foundations) stepped up to fill in the funding gap.
Upward Bound helps local high school students from low-income families prepare for and apply to college.
The biggest donor, AT&T presented a $10,000 check to Wesleyan on Friday to help run the program. State Sen. Paul Doyle helped secure the funding.
Sonia Manjon, Wesleyan's Vice President for Institutional Partnerships and Chief Diversity Officer, took part in the presentation.
This year the program will serve 100 high school students (25 in each class) to help them make a successful transition to college. Led by a director and operated by college students and recent graduates, the program will consist of a four-week summer session and 40 weeks of programming throughout the academic year.
Participating students and their families will learn to navigate the college application process, including writing personal essays, preparing for the SAT, sharpening critical thinking skills, and creating yearly action plans focused on academic and personal development. Wesleyan students will offer tutoring and other academic support as needed.