Dr. Kathleen M. Ouellette, Waterbury Superintendent of Schools said, "I am delighted to congratulate NVCC on the Upward Bound grant awards, and to thank NVCC's Bridge to College Division for collaborating with our comprehensive high schools to provide students with significant academic supports and college readiness services through those grants."

The funding will support intrusive mentoring, tutoring, and a robust six-week summer program for participants.  The grant was authored by David Celotto, NVCC Bridge to College Director who will serve as the local project director for NVCC.  David Celotto said, "We are elated at the opportunity the Upward Bound grants will provide to the Waterbury high school students at Crosby, Kennedy, and Wilby High Schools.  The grant awards will offer a unique opportunity for Waterbury students to participate in an abundance of early college opportunities.  The grants are wonderful examples of NVCC’s partnership with the Waterbury Public Schools and the commitment the Bridge to College Division has made to advance college opportunities for our Waterbury students.”

NVCC Dean of Academic Affairs, Irene Rios-Knauf, Ph.D., reiterated the commitment of the College to the high school students of the NVCC service region. “The successful attainment of these three grants is a testament to the commitment the college has to serve as a bridge to college for Waterbury’s high school students and to advance opportunities for their academic success.”

President Daisy Cocco De Filippis, Ph.D., shared the news with the entire campus in a celebratory announcement, “I celebrate with a heart filled with gratitude the support that NVCC has been able to garner for our beloved City of Waterbury and the students at three of our high schools: Crosby, Kennedy and Wilby. We take very seriously our charge to be engines of change for the communities we serve.  As a Waterbury resident and as the President of one of Waterbury’s most significant assets, I take tremendous pride in knowing that even in times of uncertainty, we at NVCC continue to move forward in positive, collaborative and kind ways. I thank the very talented administration, faculty and staff at NVCC for their consistently generous and effective outcomes. Bendiciones.”