Upward Bound Alumni & Friends Network of Western MA

Hello TRIO Family. McNair needs your help! Today is McNair Day of Action. The Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program is at risk, with funding set to expire on October 1, 2025. You can take action today by:

1. Calling your U.S. Representative and both Senators — ask to speak with the Education Aide and urge them to pressure the Department of Education to release TRIO GANs and fully fund McNair.
2. Emailing their Education Aide, Legislative Director, and District Director with a short, direct message about how McNair has impacted student lives.
3. Spreading the word on social media- use and .
4. Recruiting others to take action.

Let's Show Up for McNair!!!

For more info on how you can take action visit COE's website:
https://coenet.org/protect-the-ronald-e-mcnair-post-baccalaureate-achievement-program/

Any former SPS Students who recieved a Certificate of Attainment over a High School Diploma because of not meeting MCAS grad requirements, you may be eligible to recieve your diploma. Read for more info.

Springfield Public Schools is accepting requests from former students who were previously awarded a Certificate of Attainment rather than a high school diploma due to not meeting the MCAS graduation requirements in place at the time of their completion.

This opportunity follows the passage of Massachusetts Ballot Question 2 on November 5, 2024, which revised the Competency Determination (CD) requirement to graduate from high school in the Commonwealth. In accordance with this legislative change, SPS has updated its diploma eligibility criteria for students from the graduating classes of 2003 through 2024.

Former students who meet the following criteria may now be eligible to receive their high school diploma:

• Earned a passing grade in both English 9 and English 10;
• Earned a passing grade in Algebra 1 or Algebra 2, and Geometry;
• Earned a passing grade in at least one laboratory core science course (Biology, Chemistry, or Introductory Physics)

These academic requirements must have been fulfilled in addition to all other local graduation requirements that were in effect at the time, as outlined in the district’s Pupil Progression Plan.

“If you or someone you know received a Certificate of Attainment due to MCAS testing requirements and believe you now meet the updated criteria, we encourage you to apply,” said Superintendent Dr. Sonia Dinnall.

Calling all TRIO Alums (Upward Bound, Talent Search, Student Support Services, McNair, Educational Opportunity Centers). Join this live session tonight at anytime between 6pm-11pm EST to:
- Sign On to protect the programs that opened doors for you!
- Meet other alumni across the country who share your journey.
- Speak Out about how TRIO changed your life and why it must continue for future generations!
Register and Join: https://lnkd.in/e3FY64TX

ATTENTION:

In an effort to reach our 10,000 TRIO Alumni Signatories: Join the Virtual TRIO Alumni Lock-In: Sign On & Speak Out!

Join us Today, Friday, May 23rd on YouTube/Zoom LIVE from 6 pm EST to 11pm EST. Join anytime.

Our goal? 10,000 alumni signatures to show Congress that TRIO works—and TRIO must be protected. This is more than a petition. It’s a movement.

- Sign On to protect the programs that opened doors for you!
- Meet other alumni across the country who share your journey.
- Speak Out about how TRIO changed your life and why it must continue for future generations!

Just Click, Register and Join: https://lnkd.in/e3FY64TX

Calling all TRIO Alums! Sign on to this letter. We must protect Federal TRIO Programs!!

SIGN OUR TRIO ALUMNI SIGN ON LETTER:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Council for Opportunity in Education - COE...As recently as 2023, students from the highest income quartile earned college degrees at a rate more than four times that of students from the lowest income quartile (62% vs. 15%)."

AT NO COST, can we allow TRIO programs to be eliminated. The cost to students and our country is too great.

As TRIO alumni, we are calling on you all to help by doing the following:

Please REVIEW the TRIO Alumni sign-on letter and sign below. Please complete by Friday, May 23, 2025!

https://lnkd.in/eymA6f-7

Good morning, Alumni and Friends of Upward Bound. The Trump administration has its sights set on eliminating Federal TRIO programs as outlined in the president’s proposed FY 2026 budget. The loss of the NMH/GCC Upward Bound program was a devastating blow to our communities and the impact of eliminating all federal TRIO programs would be disastrous for the over 800,000 first-generation, low-income, disabled students these programs serve annually.

The proposal says “access to college is not the obstacle it was for students of limited means” but we know this is not true and low-income students are still not enrolling in college and earning college degrees at the same rate as higher-income families. Last year the Pell Institute released 2024 Indicators of Higher Education Equity in the United States and highlighted the wide disparity in postsecondary enrollment between low-income students (44%) and students in higher-income quartiles (79%).

Our students need TRIO. These programs are effective in narrowing the opportunity gaps that exist for first-generation, low-income, and disabled students in access to postsecondary education. TRIO has a history of bipartisan support and a strong federal lobby in Council for Opportunity in Education, but your voices and stories are important! Let your members of Congress know that cutting TRIO is not an option! Let your members of congress know that TRIO WORKS!

Council for Opportunity in Education Condemns President Trump’s Proposal to Eliminate Federal TRIO Programs - Council for Opportunity in Education President Trump’s newly released 2026 budget proposes the complete elimination of the Federal TRIO Programs, which have helped millions of low-income, first-generation students - including veterans, adult learners, and students with disabilities - succeed in higher education for over 60 years.

Scholarship applications are open at Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts. Obtaining a college education is expensive, and the Community Foundation strives to provide some financial assistance to students living in Franklin, Hampden and Hampshire counties to help them achieve their goal of graduating from college. They have over 160 different scholarship funds and give away over 1,000 individual scholarship awards every year.

Scholarships are provided for one academic year and are not automatically renewed each year. You can reapply every year you are going to attend college, and the application you submit that year will be considered for all scholarships for which you are eligible.

Scholarships - Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts   THE 2025-2026 SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION CLOSES MARCH 31, 2025.   Portal Access The Scholarship Program Obtaining a college education is…

Current TRIO staff and TRIO student alumni, Massachusetts Educational Opportunity Association - MEOA is offering scholarships to attend the 2025 Council for Opportunity in Education Policy Seminar- UNITE TO DEFEND TRIO PROGRAMS- in Washington DC from March 17-19. Applications are due Jan. 24, check out the MEOA website for application information

Policy Seminar 2025 – MEOA The 2025 Policy Seminar comes at a pivotal moment for TRIO programs. Facing significant challenges from proposed federal budget cuts and potential shifts to block grant funding, it’s more important than ever to advocate for the future of TRIO.

Applications for the COE TRIO Future Leaders Summit are due Jan. 13. "The Council for Opportunity in Education (COE) is excited to host the inaugural TRIO Future Leaders Summit in Washington, D.C., from April 13-17, 2025. This powerful event will bring together 30 selected TRIO college students from across the United States and its territories to elevate their leadership skills, expand career opportunities in public policy, and connect with influential policymakers."

TRIO Future Leaders Summit - Council for Opportunity in Education This event brings together 30 selected TRIO college students from across the United States and its territories to elevate their leadership skills, expand career opportunities in public policy, and connect with influential policymakers.

Applications for the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts’ student loan program will open on November 1 and close on November 15 at 12 PM, with awards expected to arrive to students in January 2025.

Students may receive one $3,000 loan each year they are enrolled in school, and can receive a maximum of four loans (a total of $12,000) over the span of their undergraduate, graduate, and/or postsecondary education.

Visit the website for more details!

Educational Loans - Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts OPENS NOVEMBER 1, 2024 Interest-Free Educational Loans AN UPDATE ON STUDENT LOANS We are pleased to announce the resumption of…

It's Graduation Season! We want to highlight UB Alums!

Hi NMH/GCC UB! Danielle here (UB student summers of ‘98-‘00, summer staff while in college, and Academic Advisor ‘05-‘07). Valentine’s day felt like a good excuse to share how much I loved my time at Upward Bound. (So much that I dug up this old photo from 1998.) If you’re feeling the love for UB, I’d love to hear from you! 💛 Share your own memories in the comments.