Students find success through Upward Bound
By Ashley Keener, News Writing Student
Celebrating its 16th year on campus, the Upward Bound program assists more than 60 high school students in need every year, said Upward Bound Assistant Director Carmela Pyle.
“Usually 80 percent that join the program end up staying in it until they graduate high school,” Pyle said.
Designed by L.B. Johnson in 1965, the Upward Bound program helps students ages 13 to 19 acquire the skills and motivation necessary to do well in high school and higher education, she said.
“Each year after graduating from high school, 100 percent of our students enroll in college,” Pyle said.
She said the three objectives of the program are for students to improve in academic preparation, self-concept, and increase post-secondary enrollment.
Local Oklahoma City high schools are served, Pyle said.
The program offers academic and personal counseling to students.
There is a minimum of two hours tutoring a week and two meetings every month.
Pyle said students get tutored at the OCCC campus either Tuesday nights or Saturday afternoons.
Students are required to attend “mini-college” while in this program, where they walk through college enrollment procedures and are introduced to financial aid.
In order for students to be part of the Upward Bound program, they must meet certain requirements. They have to meet the income criteria or they have to be a first-generation post-secondary student.
Students are financially compensated for their time, which is a plus to many.
“I would definitely take part in this if I was going to get paid to make better grades. That is a double benefit,” said student Julie Pierini.
“If my high school in Houston, Texas, would have had this program, I think we would have had a better school all around,” she said.
Student Morgan Connelly agreed.
“I wish my high school had this program so more of my classmates would have gone to college.”
