Wednesday, September 26, 2012
PRINCESS ANNE, MD-(Sept. 24, 2012)Bank of America and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore are teaming up to help over 100 high school students in the Upward Bound program develop the skills needed to be financially responsible and make sound decisions.
Students from Wicomico and Somerset counties enrolled in Upward Bound-a U.S. Department of Education program providing underserved students with the pre-college training necessary to succeed in pursuing a college degree-will benefit. A $10,000 grant from Bank of America funds the project.
“Bank of America is delighted to work with UMES and Upward Bound,” said Monty Sayler, senior vice president for Bank of America. “This is a well-designed project that fits nicely with the mission of the bank. We strongly support programs that increase community engagement, financial knowledge and life-skill and soft-skill development.”
Students from the university’s Department of Human Ecology will work with program participants to teach them financial literacy, money management and self sufficiency.
“Student mentors from the department’s Family & Consumer Sciences program will not only educate Upward Bound youths, but also provide seminars for their parents,” said Dr. Nina Lyon Bennett, chair of UMES’ human ecology department. Topics include budgeting, saving, financial planning and preparing for a child’s education, she said.
Photo caption: Senior Vice President for Bank of America Monty Sayler presents a check sponsoring a financial literacy project to UMES representatives, from left, President Juliette B. Bell; Dr. Nina Bennett, chair of the human ecology department and program coordinator; Dr. Nicole Gale, director of the Upward Bound program; and Dr. Veronique Diriker, director of development.
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Gail Stephens, assistant director, UMES Office of Public Relations, 410-651-7580, gcstephens@umes.edu.
Bill Robinson, director, UMES Office of Public Relations, 410-621-2355, wrobinson3@umes.edu.
