Summary
OTC's Veterans Upward Bound program will host open houses in Springfield and Waynesville on July 18 and 19. Veterans and active military members will learn how Veterans Upward Bound can help them achieve their higher education goals.
Ozarks Technical Community College’s Veterans Upward Bound (VUB) program will host open houses for veterans and active military members to learn how VUB can help them access postsecondary education. The VUB event at OTC Springfield is on July 18. On July 19, VUB will host an open house at the OTC Waynesville Campus. Both sessions run from 9 a.m.—4 p.m.
“I am grateful for the assistance I received through Veterans Upward Bound,” said Travis Brown, a VUB program alumnus and OTC graduate. “After four years in the Marines, I needed a refresher in math and English before enrolling in classes. That really helped my confidence. Plus, having a community of veterans starting college was great.”
The open houses will include presentations on tuition assistance, veterans’ benefits and financial aid. Veterans Upward Bound staff will also provide tours of the campuses and one-on-one assistance. Vendors in attendance include Missouri State University’s Veterans Services office, the Missouri Veterans Commission, the Ozarks Veterans Coalition, and other organizations that help military members transition to civilian life.
VUB assists southwest Missouri veterans and current military service members with preparation to attend any college or university of their choosing. This voluntary program is free, and participants have no commitments. Veterans Upward Bound staff assist with admission to any college, not just OTC.
The Veterans Upward Bound program is one of the eight programs that make up the U.S. Department of Education’s Federal TRIO Grant Programs, which identify and provide services for individuals from differing backgrounds.
Anyone interested in learning more about the open houses should call (417) 447-7840 or visit otc.edu/vub.
The 100% federally funded Department of Education grant provides $1,487,865 over five years, which began on Sept. 1, 2022. None of the financial resources come from non-governmental sources.
