KSC’s Upward Bound program prepares high school students for success in high school and college by building the academic skills, motivation, and self-confidence necessary for success in college. Funding for the program comes from the United States Department of Education, so the Upward Bound experience is free for students from low-income families.

In these days of economic turmoil, funding for important programs such as this is uncertain, at best. When NH Senator Jeanne Shaheen was on campus in early May to discuss student-loan debt, Upward Bound staffers contacted her to express their funding concerns.  The following week, Senator Shaheen reported that the Dept. of Ed. announced renewed funding to the UB programs at both UNH and KSC. UNH will receive nearly $478,000, while Keene will receive nearly $422,000. According to UB’s Assistant Director, Beth Zinn, this will allow the program to serve 94 high school students and their families from eight local high schools in southeastern Vermont and southwestern New Hampshire—more students than it could serve before. “It’s exciting to know that we now have the money to continue to serve these awesome kids,” Zinn said.