NDSU Upward Bound students received a bronze and ceramic plaque, along with a $1,000 check, in appreciation for their contributions to the 2011 Scheels Fargo Marathon.

Mark Knutson, director of the marathon, awarded the check and plaque, on behalf of the Marathon Foundation to the group of 28 students who participated in traffic control for the full, half and 10k marathon events. The Upward Bound Program has maintained a six-year partnership with the Marathon providing traffic control. The plaque, created by Bachmeier Pottery and Sculpture of Fargo, is the same award distributed to winners of various races.

Upward Bound is a federally funded program designed to help students succeed in high school and prepare for continued success in college. It provides students, free of charge, academic, cultural and social activities designed to build skills, motivation and self-confidence. To be eligible for the program, a student’s family income must be at or below federally determined guidelines, both of the student’s parents must not have earned a four-year degree or the student has a diagnosed disability. Students must be between ages 13 and 19 and must have graduated from eighth grade and not have begun 12th grade.