Upward Bound celebrates 16th year on campus
By Ashley Keener, News Writing Student
Celebrating its 16-year on campus, the Upward Bound program helps out over 60 high school students in need every year. “Usually 80 percent that join the program end up staying in it until they graduate high school,” Assistant Director of Upward Bound Carmela Pyle said.
Upward Bound is a program designed by L.B. Johnson in 1965 that helps students ages 13-19 to get the skills and motivation necessary to do well in high school and higher education.
“Each year after graduating from high school, 100 percent of our students enroll in college,” Pyle said.
The three objectives of the program are for students to improve in academic preparation, self-concept, and increase post-secondary enrollment.
The local Oklahoma City high schools will be served. “I wish my high school had this program so more of my classmates would have gone to college,” Morgan Connelly said.
“If my high school in Houston, Texas would have had this program, I think we would have had a better school all around,” Julie Pierini said.
This 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. This is 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 and/or they have to be a first generation post-secondary student.
Students will get 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,” student Julie Pierini said.
