Urban Upbound Celebrates College Access Graduation with 14 Students Headed to Four-Year Universities

QUEENS, N.Y. - May 28, 2025 - PRLog -- Urban Upbound Celebrates College Access Graduation with 14 Students Headed to Four-Year Universities

Astoria, NY — Urban Upbound proudly celebrated the achievements of 14 graduating seniors from its College Access Program during a vibrant ceremony held on May 22 at 31-35 Steinway Street in Astoria. Each student was recognized for their exceptional persistence and determination in pursuing higher education — all are enrolling in four-year colleges this fall, with many pursuing degrees in business and STEM fields.

Collectively, the graduating class earned over $543,970 in scholarships, with several students receiving full-ride offers. Over the course of the program, students increased their SAT scores by an average of 185 points, a testament to their hard work and the individualized academic support they received.

Graduating senior Cora Ellison, who will be attending Northwestern University on a full-ride scholarship and a recipient of the prestigious Gates Scholarship, expressed her appreciation for the program.

"College Access is what helped me navigate all this. They also helped me take initiative because I had personalized 1-on-1 support each step of the process. Everyone is here because they took initiative. Everyone here wants to succeed."

The event was attended by families, Urban Upbound board members and staff, and local supporters, all gathered to honor the resilience and promise of the Class of 2025. Urban Upbound's College Access Program is designed to support first-generation and low-income students in navigating the complex journey to college — offering one-on-one mentorship, SAT prep, college application guidance, and financial aid counseling.

About Urban Upbound

Urban Upbound is a nonprofit organization dedicated to breaking cycles of poverty in New York City public housing and other low-income neighborhoods. Founded in 2004, Urban Upbound provides residents with the tools and resources needed to achieve economic mobility through employment services, financial counseling, youth and college access programs, community revitalization, and our own Urban Upbound Federal Credit Union. We believe that every New Yorker deserves the opportunity to thrive, regardless of zip code. For more information, visit www.UrbanUpbound.org.