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Mount Wachusett Community College (MWCC) has received $7,500 in funding through the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s After School and Out-of-School Time (ASOST) Grant Program to enhance the Upward Bound Math & Science (UBMS) STEM Enrichment initiative. This award, coupled with $17,541 in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Education’s Upward Bound Math & Science program, will expand hands-on learning and college preparation opportunities for high school students across North Central Massachusetts.
MWCC’s UBMS program inspires and prepares high school students from disadvantaged backgrounds to pursue and succeed in postsecondary education—particularly in STEM disciplines. The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s ASOST Grant Program supports equitable, high-quality enrichment opportunities for students statewide, helping programs like MWCC’s UBMS extend academic and social learning beyond the school day.
The MWCC’s UBMS program serves 63 students annually from Gardner High School, Athol High School, and Murdock High School, with additional participants from area vocational schools. All students in the program are either low-income or potential first-generation college students, with at least two-thirds meeting both criteria.
The enhanced STEM Enrichment Program will offer 13 bimonthly sessions between October 2025 and April 2026, providing up to 39 hours of direct academic and STEM-focused engagement for participants. Each session will feature three key components, academic enrichment, college readiness mentoring, and hands-on STEM learning.
“This grant helps us provide consistent, meaningful learning experiences that go beyond the classroom,” said Dr. James Vander Hooven, President of Mount Wachusett Community College. “By investing in academic support, college readiness, and STEM exploration, we are opening doors for students who might not otherwise see themselves in these fields.”
Since 2008, MWCC’s UBMS program has helped hundreds of local students strengthen their academic skills, prepare for college, and explore careers in science and technology.