MCC News

Upward Bound at MCC Receives Federal Grants to Offer Youths One-of-a-kind STEM Experiences (12/10/2018)

Note: This is an ARCHIVED news release. Information in this article may have changed since this was published.

An Upward Bound Math and Science program
student prepares to look at fruit fly eggs under
a microscope.

Hands-on learning alongside college faculty is aimed at fostering students’ interest in high-demand careers

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Dec. 10, 2018 – The U.S. Department of Education has awarded $72,000 in grants to the TRIO Upward Bound and Upward Bound Math and Science programs at Monroe Community College to provide hands-on career-exploration opportunities to Rochester city high school students with a goal of boosting interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields.

The grant awards address a critical need locally and nationally for greater awareness of STEM careers among youths and for more students to pursue education and a profession in STEM-related fields. The number of U.S. jobs requiring STEM expertise is growing at a rate that exceeds current workforce capacity. The advanced manufacturing sector alone projects U.S. will need to fill about 3.5 million jobs by 2025 ⸺ but as many as 2 million of these positions might go unfilled if a shortage of qualified workers persists, according to the National Association of Manufacturing and Deloitte.

With federal funding support, the Upward Bound programs at MCC will expand their six-week summer session to integrate opportunities for up to 80 program participants to explore STEM careers through hands-on activities led by MCC faculty in laboratory and field research settings. Students will also learn what kind of education and training each career requires. The next summer session will begin July 1, 2019.

Students will gain an introduction to careers across 13 academic disciplines, including geology, geospatial information science, forensic science, optical systems technology, dental hygiene, fire protection technology, emergency medical services, automotive technology, engineering science, and surgical technology. Most of the activities will take place at MCC locations, including the Brighton Campuses, Applied Technologies Center, and the Public Safety Training Facility.

Housed on MCC’s Downtown Campus, the Upward Bound summer program is designed to help students ⸺ many of them economically disadvantaged and whose parents are not college graduates ⸺ achieve academic success in high school and prepare for college. The program serves students from Northwest College Preparatory High School, Rochester Early College International High School, World of Inquiry School, and Wilson Magnet High School.

For information about Upward Bound, call program director Carmelita Brown-Wallace at (585) 685-6013.

Photo caption: An Upward Bound Math and Science program student prepares to look at fruit fly eggs under a microscope during a local National Science Foundation INCLUDES expo in 2017.

Media Contact:
Hency Yuen-Eng
Government and Community Relations
585-292-3063
hyuen-eng@monroecc.edu