Through Project College Bound, education, community and business leaders have come together to change a culture of low expectations into a progressive, achievement-oriented vision for Hermiston youth.

Project College Bound was recognized by AARP with a grant award in March 2008, when Hermiston High School beat out schools from across the state to win the Legacy Innovation Award. The Ethel Percy Andrus Award for Innovation award is part of the association's 50th anniversary celebration. One high school from every state was chosen to receive this one-time award. It was created to honor AARP founder Ethel Percy Andrus, a pioneer in secondary school education and the first female high school principal in California.

E3 helped launch Project College Bound in 2003 to encourage more students to attend post-secondary education.  While E3 no longer plays an active role in the project, the district and community have continued to sponsor student tours of regional and statewide colleges, partnered with ASPIRE to mentor juniors and seniors through the college selection process, and they continue to encourage more students to attend post-secondary education. 

To date, hundreds of students have participated in the program, and the leadership team continues to work together and has developed a grant proposal seeking financial support from foundations and local businesses to support its community strategies and provide on-going support for its ASPIRE program.

Thank You Founding Leadership Team!

Blue Mountain Community College
Hermiston School District

Legacy Creation Network
Oregon State University/Hermiston Experiment Station
Wilcox Furniture