West Virginia University’s Upward Bound will receive sponsorship from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Summer Food Service Program.

Through the sponsorship, Upward Bound will receive reimbursement from the USDA for eligible student’s meals during their Summer Program. Upward Bound could receive more than $4,000 through the sponsorship: approximately $1.99 for breakfast and $3.49 each for lunch and dinner.

“The money that we save by using the food service program goes directly back into the Summer Program to provide our students with more opportunities and increased services,” said Fran Bennett, director of Upward Bound. “We also feel that the food service program provides a strong foundation for our students to develop healthy eating habits.”

Eligibility is based on income guidelines, shown in the photograph on the side of the page.

The Summer Program, running June 29 through July 18, gives students a taste of college life. High school students live on campus in the Evansdale Residential Complex, take courses taught by WVU faculty and staff and participate in community service and cultural activities. Additionally, eligible students compete for an Upward Bound Mylan Scholarship, allowing them to take a WVU course for credit. This year students will also compete in the 50th Anniversary Video Competition, sponsored by the Council for Opportunity in Education, celebrating the long history of the program.

Upward Bound, a federally funded TRiO program, is designed to help high school students overcome social, academic, cultural and class barriers to higher education. WVU Upward Bound serves up to 54 students in ninth through 12th grades from Clay-Battelle, Grafton and Preston high schools, which have been targeted based upon educational and financial criteria.

For more information on WVU Upward Bound, visit http://upwardbound.wvu.edu.

In accordance with federal law and USDA policy, WVU is prohibited from discrimination against its customers, employees, and applicants for employment on the bases of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity, religion, reprisal, and where applicable, political beliefs, marital status, familial or parental status, sexual orientation, or all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program, or protected genetic information in employment or in any program or activity conducted or funded by the Department. (Not all prohibited bases will apply to all programs and/or employment activities.)

If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the form. You may also write a letter containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax (202) 690-7442 or email at program.intake@usda.gov.

Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339; or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish).

Persons with disabilities who wish to file a program complaint, please see information above on how to contact us by mail directly or by email. If you require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) please contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).

WVU and USDA are equal opportunity providers and employers.

-WVU-

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CONTACT: Frances Bennett, Upward Bound
304.293.6199, UpwardBound@mail.wvu.edu

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