FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                        December 11, 2007

NORTHWESTERN AWARDED $1 MILLION GRANT TO IMPROVE
PUBLIC SCHOOL GRADUATION RATES, BOLSTER COLLEGE ATTENDANCE    

            Northwestern Oklahoma State University has received a $1 million Upward
Bound grant from the U.S. Department of Education to work with 10 area public schools to improve high school graduation rates and encourage students to pursue higher education options.

            The Upward Bound grant program is part of the Federal TRIO Programs that provide educational opportunity outreach programs designed to motivate and support students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Northwestern’s grant will be funded for four years.

            This is the second TRIO grant received by Northwestern this fall. Earlier, the University received a $1.25 million Upward Bound Math and Science grant.

            “This second Upward Bound grant will allow Northwestern to make a significant positive impact upon the students in our partner schools, reinforcing the facts that completion of a high school education and the pursuit of a college degree is not only possible, but necessary to compete in today’s workplace,” said Dr. Janet Cunningham, president.

            The 10 schools targeted by Northwestern through the grant include Alva, Aline-Cleo, Burlington, Cherokee, Cimarron, Fairview, Freedom, Ringwood, Timberlake and Waynoka. Representatives from Northwestern will begin working with each school to identify prospective student participants.

            The grant will provide funding for academic instruction in core curriculum courses, personal counseling, academic events, career awareness activities, a residential summer program and a college bridge program.

            Cunningham said Northwestern added three new positions to administer its first Upward Bound grant and hopes to add at least two new additional employees with funds provided through the second grant.

-NW-

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