Cornyn, Gohmert at Kilgore College grant ceremony
TRIO-Upward Bound Program to receive $1 million to help high schoolers

U.S. Senator John Cornyn and Congressman Louie Gohmert will be at Kilgore College tomorrow for a ceremony to celebrate and formally announce a $1 million grant from the Department of Education.

President Dr. Bill Holda last week reported that that the Kilgore College TRIO-Upward Bound program will the grant. Gohmert and Cornyn will be at a press conference in the Devall Ballroom at 1:45 p.m., tomorrow, Feb. 20. The college will also introduce Upward Bound's new director, Bertha Brown, at the press conference.

Upward Bound is a program that provides support to high school students in preparation for college entrance.

The program serves high school students from families in which neither parent holds a bachelor's degree and who are low income. At least a third of participants must be students who are academically at-risk because of low TAKS scores or low grade point averages.

The grant will allow the college to partner with 50 students yearly who meet the qualifications at four area school districts: Gladewater, Henderson, Pine Tree and Sabine.

The grant will also include funding to hire two full-time counselors who will work with students at the four high schools and the addition of an administrative assistant.

The grant began Dec. 1, and will end Nov. 30, 2011, at which time KC will be eligible to re-apply.

For additional information, contact Bindy Tice, KC TRIO Director, at (903) 988-7590 or e-mail her: btice@kilgore.edu.