Purdue's 'Horizons' Program secures $2.1 million grant

Purdue's 'Horizons' Program secures $2.1 million grant

Grant is now saving a purdue student support service.

The university's 'horizon' program was at risk of coming to an end.

Nearly 350 low- income and first generation students depend on it to get through college.

News 18's micah upshaw joins us live on campus to tell us more about the organization.

The horizon program has been a part of purdue for the past 43 years.

It's a federally funded service that has to be renewed every five years.

This is a competitive grant and this pandemic made it even harder to secure.

:24 1:07 nat: we're all first generation students mostly so a lot of us were kind of deer in headlights over here so it's very helpful.

M: 340 purdue students depend on the horizons program to help with a number of things.

It provides academic and financial help, career support and what many students call a home away from home.

That's why director baraka corley couldn't imagine what it would mean to lose it.

B: really didn't know what that conversation would look like if i would have to tell the students as well as the staff that we didn't get the funding.

M: corley says purdue was up against around 11-hundred other universities and institutions fighting for the same grant.

It's providing 2.1- million dollars for the horizons program over the course of five years.

According to corley, 99-percent of the students who go through this program maintain good academic standing.

68-percent graduate within six years.

B: the impact that they'll have as a result of receiving these services, finishing purdue and going back into their communities, that legacy will live on.

Nat: emilie talking.

E: i'm really happy that it will continue just because like they will be able to have what i had, they won't be struggling and being like 'we don't have the resources to provide you a fun experience these next four years.

M: emilie favela is a senior with plans to work as an industrial engineer when she graduates.

As a first generation student she's grateful for the impact she'll have in her community after graduating.

E: i didn't know anything about college, i didn't even know about full-time jobs pretty much and they have pushed me even farther than what i thought i could do.

This grant is provided through the u.s department of education.

The funding is set to start in the year of 2022.

Reporting live in west lafayette, micah upshaw.

News 18.

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