This infographic shows the process students should follow when attempting to apply to Upward Bound. This program provides resources for first-generation and low-income college students. Infographic by Valeria Garcia-Pozo.
By VALERIA GARCIA-POZO – News Editor
Upward Bound, a federally funded program that serves low-income and first-generation high school students, provides Clarke Central High School students with opportunities and resources.
Upward Bound is a University of Georgia program that aims to prepare low-income and first-generation high school students for post-secondary education. The program offers fee waivers, tutoring, the opportunity to go on college visits, a six-week residential summer program. It offers various other activities such as financial aid nights and scholarship boot camps, all of which are free to students.
“A lot of our students are low-income and first generation, and college is really not on their forefront. A lot of them think it’s something that they can’t attain or is too expensive, or they just don’t have the mindset or the guidance to go and I feel like Upward Bound fills in that gap and you know, makes college real for them,” Upward Bound director Sonia Davis said.
According to senior Mia Wilhite, Upward Bound has been beneficial to her in her journey to apply to college as a first-generation student.
“Nobody in my family — especially immediate family — went to college, so we really were in the dark about the whole process, and Upward Bound helped with that a lot,” Wilhite said. “They give you fee waivers for all of your college applications, scholarships that may ask you to pay, and so it just really helps out for people that aren’t financially set in the place where they can put all in for the college process.”
Upward Bound serves high school students in all grades, but applicants must be between eighth and tenth grades. Students must fill out an application and compile recommendation letters from their counselors, English teachers and mathematics teachers. To be eligible, they must also have at least a 2.5 grade-point average.
“(Counselors) get to refer students to the program, so we know which students that would really qualify for it, and so we give them recommendations as to, ‘This would be a good student for this program, (it) would be a good fit for them,’” graduation coach and former Upward Bound Director Tonia Jones said.
According to Wilhite, the reminders and notifications that Upward Bound students receive have proved to be helpful in the past.
“When I found out that last year, FASFA was opening up for people early, I found out through Upward Bound, so it’s cool like that,” Wilhite said.
According to Assistant Principal Dr. Sheila Dunham, the educational enrichment opportunities that students involved in Upward Bound receive have led to positive reactions from students.
“It’s another opportunity to take advantage of, to advance in your studies, you know. When they go to the summer program, they’re previewing courses that they’ll be taking in the school year, so they’re getting a head start, so students speak very highly of it,” Dunham said.
