Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor along with U.S. Representatives Vic Snyder (AR-02) and John Boozman (AR-03) announced today that federal grants totaling over $725,000 have been awarded to three colleges and universities in the state.

The following schools have been selected to receive Upward Bound Math and Sciences grants:

Arkansas Tech University (Russellville)  $250,000

Philander Smith College (Little Rock)  $226,600

University of Arkansas (Fayetteville)  $250,000

The U.S. Department of Education selected the schools to receive funding under the Upward Bound Math and Science Competition program.  The goal of the program is to prepare incoming students for college level math and science and to encourage these students to pursue degrees in these fields.  The program targets individuals from low-income families, from families in which neither parent holds a bachelor’s degree, and from low-income, first-generation military veterans who are preparing for college.

Students benefit from the Upward Bound program by taking intensive classes in mathematics and laboratory sciences in addition to a strong core curriculum base.  Upward Bound also provides tutoring, counseling, mentoring, cultural enrichment, and work-study to support these students in their college pursuits.