ISSUED: 19 January 2022
MEDIA CONTACT: Dana Costa
SHEPHERDSTOWN, WV — Charles “Chuck” Feaster has been awarded a $2,000 National Association of Veterans Upward Bound Scholarship. Feaster was presented the Combat Tracker Award, which is named after its funders, the Combat Trackers who served in the Vietnam War. Feaster started with Veterans Upward Bound in 2020 and completed its Computer Skills class. He is now completing his Regent’s Bachelor of Arts Degree from Shepherd University.
Veterans Upward Bound is started in 1972 as veterans from the Vietnam War were returning home. It’s one of eight TRIO programs that provides outreach and services to students from disadvantaged backgrounds. West Virginia has had a Veterans Upward Bound program since 1990 and it expanded to the Eastern Panhandle about four years ago. Director Mark Rosencrance says the program offers academic assistance to prepare veterans for post-secondary education.
“Veterans Upward Bound helps eligible veterans who want to pursue trade school, college, or other post-secondary education,” Rosencrance said. “It also helps if they need to figure out their GI Bill or financial aid situation, transfer military credits or academic credits from other schools, or get into or prepare for post-secondary education. The goal is to get them to matriculate onto graduation.”
Danielle Clum, eastern region academic advisor, nominated Chuck for the award. She estimates close to 200 vets have taken advantage of Veterans Upward Bound in the Martinsburg area. She facilitates six-week-long basic computer skills classes that have been condensed to three weeks during the COVID-19 pandemic. Clum said the next computer class will be offered January 24, with about 100 veterans completing the classes over the last three years.
“I’m very excited for the veterans in our community,” said Jim Klein, Shepherd University Martinsburg Center director. “As a result of our partnership with Veterans Upward Bound, veterans have the opportunity to improve the skills that help them be successful wherever they choose to go.”
For more information on the January 24 course and other opportunities, contact Clum via email.
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