The University of Dayton will serve students who would be the first in their families to earn a college degree with a $1.27 million grant to continue and expand its Upward Bound program.

Upward Bound supports low-income and first-generation college students as they prepare for higher education. With the grant, UD will continue its year-round program for another five years, serving 63 students each year, said director TyAnn Stewart.

“The goal ultimately is to increase the enrollment and retention of students who would be the first in their families to attend and then graduate from college,” Stewart said.

More than $9.3 million was awarded to Ohio universities and colleges to operate Upward Bound programs during the 2012-13 school year.

The programs, funded with competitive grants through the U.S. Department of Education, will serve more than 2,150 students statewide. Sinclair Community College and Wright State, Central State and Wittenberg universities were among the grant recipients.

The University of Dayton program is open to students from Meadowdale, Dunbar and Belmont high schools — all rated in academic watch by the Ohio Department of Education, according to UD.

During the past two years, 20 out of 24 high school graduates in UD’s program enrolled in college after graduation.

Tavaughn Lewis, a Meadowdale alumnus, will be the first in his family to attend college when he starts at the Kansas Barton Community College.

Lewis said Upward Bound helped him see that if he went to college, he could have a career instead of a job.

“They inspired me. I wanted to go to school, I wanted to get good grades,” said Lewis, who will study journalism and run track at Barton. “I just really, really loved the program. It can help with time management, getting up early. It’s fun also, but at the same time it’s hard work.”

UD’s program will follow students from when they enter, typically in the ninth grade, until they graduate from high school and then into college, said Stewart, a graduate of Meadowdale.

Stewart and her team of tutors and teachers, as well as a program specialist and assistant, are all first-generation college graduates.

Students live on campus for six weeks in the summer for classes or work programs. During the school year they are tutored in math, science, Spanish and language arts or English.

Stewart teaches also college readiness by introducing students to the ACT, the admissions process, financial aid and other aspects.

Participates take also tours of colleges and go on outings, including to the Schuster Center and RiverScape’s ice rink.

“We focus on character development and skills they will need in college to succeed and finish their degrees,” she said. “We focus on a lifestyle.”