The National Hispanic University Receives $1.5 Million Grant for College Preparation Program

SAN JOSE, Calif., July 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Hispanic University has received a five-year, $1.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to continue the school's Upward Bound program, a pre-college, early intervention program that provides high school students with academic instruction on campus in mathematics, science, composition, literature and foreign languages. In addition, the program provides enrichment activities and a residential college program in the summer.

"We are extremely pleased that our program is once again being funded and that we can continue serving the students and families of our community," said Candelario Franco, director of pre-college TRIO programs at The National Hispanic University. "The new grant will allow us to provide tutoring, counseling and instruction to more than 70 students in order to help them navigate through high school and, ultimately, succeed in their higher education pursuits."

The Upward Bound program is funded through TRIO, a set of federal outreach and student services programs that motivate and support students from low-income, first-generation backgrounds in their pursuit of a college degree. The program was established at The National Hispanic University in 1989 and helps students bridge the gap between their performance and their potential.

"I am grateful to The National Hispanic University and its Upward Bound program as the program has enriched my education, provided me with resources and given me an edge in my college pursuit," said Francisco Velazco, an Upward Bound student who will attend college in the fall.

The National Hispanic University also administers two other TRIO programs: the Esperanza Educational Talent Search, which provides college preparation support services to students from six local high schools, and the TRIO Scholars Program, which provides college students with free tutoring services, academic and cultural development and other support to assist them in graduating from college.

For additional information about the Upward Bound program and The National Hispanic University, visit www.NHU.edu.

About The National Hispanic University
For 30 years, The National Hispanic University has provided Hispanic students and others with access to quality higher education. The university offers a diverse portfolio of undergraduate, graduate and certificate programs in business, teacher education, child development and computer science, delivered in a multicultural, collaborative and supportive learning environment. The National Hispanic University is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). The campus is located in San Jose, Calif. For more information, visit www.NHU.edu.

SOURCE The National Hispanic University