NEO's Upward Bound renewed for 5 years - KOAM TV 7

NEO's Upward Bound renewed for 5 years

Despite federal budget cuts to programs across the nation, a NEO program helping teens go to college has been renewed for another five years.

Upward Bound helps low income teens or teens who are the first in their family to go to college.

The program offers college scholarships, tutoring, and summer classes.

This year similar programs lost funding, but NEO's Upward Bound funding was not only renewed, it also increased.

"We've had the grant for over 10 years," says Bephene Fahnestock of NEO Student Affairs.  "We've had positive effects for the students.  We've had employees here who started out as Upward Bound students and went to college at NEO and we've actually employed them."

Next year 70 spots for high schoolers from seven Oklahoma high schools will be available.