Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Elise Stefanik today announced that, following her advocacy, SUNY Plattsburgh has been granted a five-year renewal to continue its Plattsburgh Upward Bound Program and will receive $729,955 to support North Country students in the 2022-2023 school year. SUNY Plattsburgh’s program was left off the initial slate of Upward Bound awards announced in May due to an administrative error by the Department of Education.
“SUNY Plattsburgh’s Upward Bound program has a decades-long track record of success in equipping North Country students to excel after graduating from high school. After the Biden Administration mistakenly excluded this program from receiving a five-year grant renewal, my office brought their concerns to the highest levels and secured these critical dollars to prepare our local students for higher education through the Upward Bound Program,” Stefanik said. “Now, these taxpayer dollars will return to our district to help set our students on a path to success and good-paying jobs.”
"Upward Bound has been a linchpin in the North Country community since 1966, assisting thousands of students pursue their educational dreams beyond high school. The release of this funding secures these critically needed educational services for North Country students for years to come. I would like to thank Congresswoman Stefanik and her staff for assisting in rectifying the Department of Education's error and delivering this award just as the new school year begins," said Brian Post, Director of SUNY Plattsburgh Upward Bound.
Upward Bound provides fundamental support to prepare students to enroll in and graduate from institutions of postsecondary education. The program serves high school students from low-income families and families in which neither parent holds a bachelor’s degree and supports participants with academic tutoring, postsecondary education counseling, financial aid information, and other support in their preparation for college entrance.
