October 22, 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

QUINN JOINS MCCC AS DIRECTOR
OF UPWARD BOUND PROGRAM

College Actively Seeking Applications for Program from Qualified
Monroe High School Freshmen and Sophomores; 50 to be Selected

MONROE, Mich. – Anthony Quinn has joined Monroe County Community College as director of Upward Bound, a new position created after the college was selected in May to receive a grant from the U.S. Department of Education to establish an Upward Bound Program.

Through a partnership with Monroe Public Schools, MCCC will receive $1 million over four years to help prepare academically-at-risk Monroe High School students – who come from low-income families and/or families in which neither parent holds a bachelor’s degree – for higher education.

Quinn, a resident of Toledo, previously served as academic skills coordinator for the Upward Bound Program at Lourdes College in Sylvania, Ohio for seven years.  Prior to that, he was an American history tutor/resident assistant for the University of Toledo Upward Bound Program – the same program he participated in while in high school.  He holds a master of arts in American history from the University of Toledo and a bachelor of arts in history from The Ohio State University.

As director of Upward Bound at MCCC, Quinn is responsible for the development and administration of the program, including hiring, training, supervising and evaluating project staff; fiscal management; and project development and management.  He serves as the program’s liaison to Monroe High School and Monroe Public Schools and also provides direct services to program participants, including assisting with academic coordinator duties.

MCCC is actively seeking applications for the Upward Bound Program from qualified Monroe High School students.  A total of 50 MHS freshman and sophomores will be selected.

Quinn will be at the MHS Open House on Thursday, October 25 from 5-8 p.m. in Room 106-F conducting student and parent interviews, as well as answering questions about the program.  Interested students and parents can also contact Quinn at (734) 384-4279 or at aquinn@monroecccc.edu.

About the Upward Bound Program at MCCC
The Upward Bound Program at Monroe Community College is federally funded.  It is designed to help prepare academically-at-risk Monroe High School students – who come from low-income families and/or families in which neither parent holds a bachelor’s degree – for higher education.
Program activities include an academic year component comprised of 100 contact hours of tutoring/mentoring services; career, academic and personal counseling; basic skill instruction; supplemental instruction; college admissions/financial aid process review; and electronic learning tools for participants.

In addition, students will participate in a variety of activities, such as field trips to corporations/businesses and area colleges and universities, leadership development activities, career
exploration and workshops for their parents.
  
Another component of the program is a mandatory six-week summer component intended to simulate a college experience, which will take place on the MCCC campus.  Each student will receive 120 contact hours (72 hours of supplemental services and activities) of classroom instruction in math, laboratory science, foreign language and composition/literature each summer. 

A summer bridge component will be offered to graduating Upward Bound Program seniors.  Based upon previous participation in a dual enrollment course, bridge participants must enroll in a minimum of three hours and a maximum of six hours of college credit during the bridge component.  They will also receive intense assistance in getting ready for college.