Northern veterans program receives federal grant

Tim Leeds Havre Daily News [email protected]

Montana State University-Northern's Veterans Upward Bound program has received a half-million dollar grant, the state's U.S. senators announced Monday. The program, hosted by Northern and administered on the campus of Montana State University-Billings, was awarded $542,529 issued by the U.S. Department of Education. Veterans Upward Bound is one of the Education Department's Trio programs, designed to help low-income, first-generation students succeed in college. Sens. Max Baucus and Jon Tester, both Democrats, sent a letter to the Senate Appropriations Committee this year expressing support for the program and for maintaining funding in the 2010 appropriations bill. “We honor Montana veterans by making sure resources are available for them to go back to school,” Baucus said in a press release. “The Veterans Upward Bound Program is a great asset to our state and this funding will go a long way.” “The Veterans Upward Bound Program is about doing right by the men and women in Montana who have served in our nation's armed forces,” Tester said in the release. “It's a smart investment, and I will continue to fight for funding that helps veterans build bright futures.” The Montana program began in 1992, and now is used at more than 14 sites around the state, including a transitionAl program on the MSU-Billings campus that includes advising and college refresher courses and offers help in applying to and registering at colleges. Veterans Upward Bound helps qualifying students including aid in completion of a high school equivalency program and admission to post secondary education programs; help for veterans who have delayed entering college and need refresher courses; assistance in applying for college or financial aid; personal counseling and academic advice and assistance. The program now offers services at more than 14 sites statewide. It offers assistance to students in attending tribal colleges, a distance-learning program and programs for military reservists and National Guard members. On the Net: Montana Veterans Upward Bound: www. Vubmt.com.