Before 17-year-old Yordanos Fesehaye begins classes at the University of Washington this fall, she plans to fight for Upward Bound, the 41-year-old federal program that helped get her there.

The Evergreen High School senior will be the first in her family to attend college, and news that some college-preparatory programs may fall victim to federal budget cuts has propelled Fesehaye to help organize a rally at Westlake Center today.

The programs fall under the umbrella of TRIO — so named because it started with three programs in the mid-1960s — and help low-income students prepare for college and graduate school. Some programs also target students whose parents haven't been to college.

President Bush has recommended axing TRIO to save money and streamline the education system. Congress is debating the issue, with a preliminary decision expected next month. Fesehaye took time-management, SAT-preparation and other classes through TRIO's Upward Bound program. Other offerings under TRIO include financial-aid workshops, visits to college campuses and technology training.

"I have been exposed to a lot of opportunities that probably would have gone untouched," she said. "Because of my SAT-preparation course, I got a better score on my test."

About 250 to 300 students from the Seattle area are enrolled in Upward Bound at any one time. Hundreds more have some involvement with other TRIO programs. Four institutions run the programs in Seattle: UW, South Seattle Community College, North Seattle Community College and the City of Seattle.

"It has a long-term impact on the students' motivation and their retention, and provides some very specific skills for use in their educational endeavors," said Karen Morell, who runs the UW TRIO programs, the area's largest.

Morell said the UW receives about $2 million each year in federal funding for its TRIO programs, from which about 99 percent of Upward Bound students graduate from high school and 69 percent graduate from college.

Fesehaye and other students from Evergreen and Tyee High School, both in the Highline School District, have spread the word to TRIO students from other Seattle-area schools, coordinating speakers and signs for a rally from 4 to 6 p.m. today at Westlake Center, 400 Pine St.

Nick Perry: 206-515-5639 or nperry@seattletimes.com