Texas Border Business
Funds will help with educational challenges faced by low-income students in South Texas
HIDALGO COUNTY, Texas—On Sunday, Congressmen Henry Cuellar (TX-28) Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15), and the Office of Filemon Vela (TX-34) will announce that the U.S. Department of Education has awarded the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) upwards of $21 million over the next seven years under the Department’s Gaining Early Awareness and Reading for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP Partnership) Program.
The funding will provide college readiness services and scholarships to students from seven high schools in the Rio Grande Valley in order to alleviate the educational challenges faced by low-income students who are preparing to enter into postsecondary education.
“As a firm believer in higher education, it has been one of my priorities in Congress to make higher education more accessible to all demographics, especially those from at-risk and low-income communities,” Congressman Cuellar said. “GEAR UP is a great program and today’s federal funds will be a lasting investment in the future growth of our community in the Valley. I thank President Bailey and the UTRGV staff, as well as my colleagues Congressman Vicente Gonzalez and Congressman Filemon Vela, for their dedication and commitment to our students in South Texas.”
“Income level should not determine access to a college degree,” Congressman Gonzalez said. “We must continue to raise all students up and give them the tools they need to enter college and obtain a degree. I thank the Department of Education for its continued support of UTRGV’s mission to serve students from all backgrounds in our region.”
“The GEAR UP Grant will allow UTRGV to groom South Texas high school students for success in higher education,”Congressman Vela said. “Pursing a college education opens up vast opportunities for people, and I’m proud our students will be awarded that chance.”
“The mission of UTRGV’s Student Educational Outreach is to develop and provide meaningful program experiences that positively impact the college preparation, access, and degree completion of underrepresented students in the region. The GEAR UP program is another example of how UTRGV is having a positive impact on our community by working with students, educators and parents as we create a college and career going culture,” said UTRGV President Guy Bailey. “I would like to thank our Congressional delegation: Congressman Cuellar, Congressman Vela and Congressman Gonzalez for their support, and I thank everyone who was involved in helping UTRGV obtain this grant.”
WHO: Congressmen Henry Cuellar (TX-28), Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15), a representative from the Office of Congressman Filemon Vela (TX-34), UTRGV President Guy Bailey, UTRGV Associate Vice President for Student Educational Outreach Dr. Sylvia Leal, and others.
WHAT: Announcement of $21,248,800 from the U.S. Department of Education to UTRGV GEAR UP Program to help low-income students succeed in college.
WHEN: Sunday, October 1 at 6:00 p.m. CT.
WHERE: UTRGV Edinburg Campus Visitors Center lobby located at: 1201 W. University Dr., Edinburg, Texas 78539
