Today, Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) announced that Laredo Community College is eligible to receive up to $2,142,415 over the next five years to help high school students prepare for college, via Upward Bound grants from the U.S. Department of Education. Congressman Cuellar helped increase the funding for this program in the Appropriations Committee.

Upward Bound grants are part of the Department of Education’s TRIO Program. Congressman Cuellar helped increase the funding for the TRIO Program in the Appropriations Committee to $950 million for the 2017 fiscal year – an increase of $50 million from the fiscal year 2016 budget.

Upward Bound grants are designed to help high school students prepare for, gain acceptance to, and afford higher education. They provide weekend tutoring and work on improving high school grade point averages, increasing their test scores, helping with financial aid and scholarship forms, and assisting with the college application process.

Laredo Community College will receive $428,483 in the first year of the program, beginning this fall. The grants are expected to continue for five years, bringing the school a total of $2,142,415 to administer the program to local high school students.

“I fought to increase the funding for this program, because I know what a difference Upward Bound grants can make for high school students aspiring to higher education,” explained Congressman Cuellar. “I know LCC will use these funds to give local students in the Laredo area the opportunity to succeed. I will work in the Appropriations Committee to ensure that it continues for the full five years, so more students can take advantage of this program.”

Dr. Ricardo J. Solis, President of Laredo Community College, said, "On behalf of Laredo Community College, I would like to extend my gratitude to Congressman Henry Cuellar for his efforts in securing continued funding for the Upward Bound program. Thanks to the Congressman securing these type of grants for Laredo Community College, countless more Laredo students, many of them first-generation college students, will be able to fulfill their educational goals, and Laredo Community College will be able to provide the educational resources to lead them on their path to academic success."

Other schools throughout Congressman Cuellar’s district, including the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and Palo Alto College, will also receive grants from this program.

Congressman Cuellar plans to hold a press conference on the subject in Laredo at a later date, to be announced.