JOHNSON CITY – The U.S. Department of Education has announced that East Tennessee
State University’s TRIO programs have won a string of impressive grants totaling more
than $10 million in the coming years.
The largest of the awards is for the TRIO-Upward Bound Math/Science program and three
other Upward Bound programs, which support high school participants in their preparation
for college entrance. The university will receive more than $7 million over the next five years.
“It is a very competitive grant renewal process, and we feel fortunate to be able
to continue Upward Bound and Upward Bound Math/Science for the next five years,” said
Dr. Ronnie Gross, executive director of ETSU’s TRIO programs. “Students who complete
this program are four times more likely to graduate from college.”
The grant renewal enables the ETSU Upward Bound and Upward Bound Math/Science programs
to serve more than 270 high school students from Carter, Johnson, Unicoi and Sullivan
county school systems as well as Elizabethton, Johnson City, Kingsport and Bristol
city school systems.
“As a career educator and a former Upward Bound student, it is an honor to endorse
the East Tennessee State University Upward Bound program,” said Dr. Chris Hampton,
principal of Dobyns-Bennett High School and recent appointee to serve as the interim
superintendent of Kingsport City Schools beginning Nov. 1. “I experienced a remarkable
level of academic support, cultural exposure, postsecondary experiences and skill
development that allowed me to successfully navigate college and a high-wage career.”
Veterans Upward Bound (VUB) earned more than $1.5 million over the next five years. The grant provides educational and other support services to 125 veterans who reside
in seven counties in Northeast Tennessee and two counties in Southwest Virginia.
As a career educator and a former Upward Bound student, it is an honor to endorse
the East Tennessee State University Upward Bound program. I experienced a remarkable
level of academic support, cultural exposure, postsecondary experiences and skill
development that allowed me to successfully navigate college and a high-wage career.
“Veterans Upward Bound provided me with an excellent tutor to help refresh my math
skills,” said Frank Dunn, a social worker for Medical Care Center in Elizabethton,
Bristol and Greeneville. “They have also assisted in choosing the courses that I would
need to take to fulfill the requirements to graduate with a Bachelor of Social Work
degree and then get a Master of Social Work degree. Everyone I have come in contact
with through VUB has given me a positive attitude toward my goals of higher education.”
The grant supports underrepresented students seeking to enter graduate school and
earn doctoral degrees. The goal of the McNair program is to increase the attainment
of graduate degrees, especially Ph.D.s, by students from underrepresented segments
of society.
“The McNair program has been critical to my success,” said Dr. Cerrone Foster, associate
professor of biology and interim director of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities
in the ETSU Honors College. “Prior to the summer program, I was not aware of the steps
in obtaining a Ph.D. or the career opportunities. My summer experience in McNair not
only provided academic and graduate school preparation but also a sense of belonging
in my research field.”
TRIO, a federally funded outreach and student services program, offers potential and
current ETSU students a range of assistance that includes financial aid advice and
help for veterans.
To learn more about TRIO, visit etsu.edu/provost/trio/.