FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 2, 2003
CONTACT: Elizabeth Eguia-Garcia, Palo Alto College Director--Office of Institutional Advancement & Public Affairs
(210) 921-5269
Palo Alto College Upward Bound Program Awarded $938,496
Palo Alto College receives a federal grant in the amount of $938,496 for a four-year continuation
grant of the Upward Bound Program to serve four rural high schools in Atascosa County. The Upward Bound Pre-College Program
is a federally funded program designed to prepare high school students for college. Qualifying students who are potential
first generation college and/or economically disadvantaged receive instruction in five core areas including Literature,
Composition, Math, Science and Foreign Language. Instruction in these areas is provided throughout the academic year and
during a six-week summer component. In addition to instruction, students receive advising, tutoring, test preparation
workshops, assistance in filling out advising and financial aid documents necessary to pursue their college careers, and
exposure to cultural and recreational activities. The Palo Alto Upward Bound Program currently services 70 students from
Lytle, Jourdanton, Pleasanton, and Poteet high schools. Upward Bound is funded through the U.S. Department of Education’s
TRIO Programs.
The grant is currently under the direction of Mr. Robert Garza, Director of Distance and Extended Education and Ms.
Christine Guerra, Coordinator of the Upward Bound Program, and was initially awarded in 1999. Upward Bound offers
participants with skills development, steers them toward academic success and life-long learning. Serving approximately
70 students per year, the existing program was in its final fourth funding cycle. Securing the new funding for four more
years will ensure that students from Lytle, Jourdanton, Pleasanton and Poteet High Schools continue to receive the
quality support services offered by Palo Alto’s Upward Bound. The program has had great success over the last four years.
Twenty-five participants recently graduated from high school and are currently enrolled in college courses through the
Palo Alto College Early Start (PACES) summer bridge program before fall enrollment at: the University of Texas at San
Antonio, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, University of the Incarnate Word, University of Houston, Palo Alto College and
St. Philip’s College. These graduates have also received $22,000 in scholarships to attend these institutions.
For more information about the Palo Alto College Upward Bound Program, please contact Ms. Christine Guerra at
(210) 921-5389.
Palo Alto College is a fully accredited community college located on the Southside of San Antonio, and awards associate
degrees, short-term certificates and offers non-credit continuing education classes. The college is recognized nationally
for its high transfer rate. The campus is located at 1400 West Villaret Blvd. at I-410 South and Texas Hwy. 16.