Last week, AT&T donated $10,000 to expand the university’s Blugold Beginnings program, which tries to inspire young students to attend college.

The UW-Eau Claire Foundation received the AT&T Innovation & Investment Award, and with the donation, Blugold Beginnings will be able to add more to its afterschool programming including a partnership with Eau Claire County 4-H to complete robotics projects.

The program also plans to serve an additional 50 students in the Eau Claire, Altoona and Augusta school districts with the grant.

Blugold Beginnings’s purpose is to educate and inspire students, especially underrepresented, low income or first generation students, to believe that a post-secondary education is important and attainable. The program hires current Eau Claire students as mentors for students in 5th grade or higher.

Working with local schools, the program aims to provide a comprehensive college connection for 5th graders through graduating seniors. Events include 5th grade campus tour days to introduce them to the idea of college and monthly events on campus such as athletic and residence hall events for high schools students.