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Now in its 38th year, Clarion’s Upward Bound program continues the proud tradition of providing local high school students with year-round academic enrichment activities, both at Clarion as well as their home school districts.
Upward Bound is one of eight federal TRIO Programs providing outreach and student services to individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds.
The U.S. Department of Education invites institutions of higher education, public and private agencies and organizations, including community-based organizations with experience in serving disadvantaged youth and secondary schools, to compete for five-year educational grants.
A team of Clarion University leaders spend many hours educating and encouraging students to enhance their academic skills while providing them the motivation necessary for success throughout their high school and college careers, as well as in their everyday lives.
Upward Bound is designed for selected high school students (grades 9 through 12) who have met eligibility criteria established by the U.S. Department of Education and who attend these high schools in western Pennsylvania: Allegheny-Clarion Valley, Farrell, Oil City, Punxsutawney, Redbank Valley, Sharon and Union.
Following initial meetings with their Upward Bound counselors in September, students begin their activities at Clarion in October with the first of five Campus Days.
Students visit Clarion one day each month from October through March (with a month off in January) to hear from faculty and local community leaders about their personal experiences while in college and as a member of the workforce.
Students are also given advice and counseling about standardized testing, their educational options, and overcoming adversity to succeed in college and in life during Campus Days as well as at regular weekly after-school meetings with their high school advisors.
According to Rhonda McMillen-Toth, director of the Upward Bound program, “Academic advising, career exploration, assistance with college and financial aid applications, visits to post-secondary education institutions, and cultural and social opportunities - these are all invaluable pieces of information that students take away from the whole Upward Bound experience.”
The campus visits end with a Family Day event held in April where parents and families are given a glimpse into some of their son’s or daughter’s accomplishments over the past few months including project presentations, awards presentations, and information from Clarion’s Center for Career and Professional Development. Parents are also given details about the Summer Academy.
Current Upward Bound participants are able to apply for a unique six-week opportunity to experience on-campus living including staying in residence halls, eating in dining facilities, and taking classes in university classrooms while in the structured, supervised and safe environment of Clarion University.
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Students wishing to join Upward Bound must meet the following requirements:
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These activities prepare the students for their next year's high school or college academic schedule, and allow time to explore various career, college, and financial resources to plan for their future.
“The Summer Academy is being held from June 20 through July 24, when the students leave for ‘the big trip’ as we call it, which is the three-day culminating activity of the academy,” says McMillen-Toth.
“This year we will be visiting Nashville, Tennessee, where the students will have an opportunity to tour three major universities, as well as experience Nashville’s many cultural destinations.”
In previous years, students visited Boston, Chicago, Maryland, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.
A select group of students who have attended at least one year of Upward Bound in high school, have graduated and will start college in the fall can apply to be bridge students.
This year's bridge students are Austin Barger, Chayanne Christo and Taylor Pennington from the Allegheny-Clarion Valley school district.
Their job is to assist the program director and staff, sit on the Advisory Council, and share their input concerning important decisions about the overall program and Summer Academy.
Bridge Student Taylor Pennington believes that Upward Bound has changed her life saying, “It has done so much for me. I have had so many more opportunities in this program than I would have anywhere else.”
Christo adds, “Upward Bound’s career assessment process helped me to focus on committing to a college program and to ultimately choose my preferred field of study, which is medicine.”
“The skills I’ve learned in Upward Bound, like time management and public speaking, will help me succeed later in life and are transferrable throughout the world,” says Barger.
“Many of our former students have experienced great success in their college and working careers, and my staff and I are very proud and humbled to think that Clarion’s Upward Bound program had a hand in that,” adds McMillen-Toth.
Many resources available to students and families are shared during the Summer Academy and throughout the school year, including what financial aid is available and where and how to apply; tips about selecting a major and/or college and the application process; assistance with study skills; admission testing information and practice; and information about specific career choices.
“Several former students have experienced great success in their college and working careers, and my staff and I are very proud and humbled to think that Clarion’s Upward Bound program had a hand in that,” adds McMillen-Toth.
“That’s what makes every year new and exciting to us as well as an enriching experience for the students.”