By TENA L. COOK, CSC Marketing Coordinator
CHADRON – The Upward Bound TRiO grant at Chadron State College has been renewed for five years for nearly $1.5 million, an increase from the last five-year grant cycle, according to Upward Bound Director Heather Barry. Barry, who is starting her third year, said the program will be required to serve 63 students compared to 60 high school students in Chadron, Crawford, and Alliance.
According to Barry, this is the fourth renewal of the federal grant program that started at CSC in 1964 before it lost funding. The program was reinstated in 2007 and has been funded continually since then.
Upward Bound operates during the school year, as well as during the summer. The program employs two academic advisers, Kevin Coy, who serves Chadron and Alliance, and Brad Gaston, who serves Crawford.
“They are in the schools on a daily basis helping students with academics, ACT prep, financial aid, tutoring, building class schedules, and career goals and assessments. Anything that will help prepare them for their future,” Barry said.
During the school year, the students and advisers take a fall trip and a spring trip to visit college campuses in eastern Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming, and South Dakota. The program also conducts quarterly meetings which have included Upward Bound students participating in community service projects such as The Big Event and assisting with Friends of Pets fundraisers.
“Sometimes we do some financial aid workshops and others on related topics to give them more skills and knowledge for their future,” Barry said.
The four-week summer program offers about 25 high school students the opportunity to experience what college is like including life in the residence halls with a roommate, college-like classes, eating in the cafeteria, and afternoon activities. Students who graduated from high school in May can also take part in the Summer Bridge Program to help prepare them for college this fall.
“I've seen several students join our camp as incoming freshmen when they won't step outside their comfort zones. However, as they continue to be a part of our program, they gain more confidence in themselves and come out of their shells,” Barry said. “It warms my heart to see how much they grow, change, and build relationships with students from other schools as they figure out who they want to be.”
The June agenda is full of educational and recreational activities. The students will take a backstage tour at the Post Playhouse at Fort Robinson and see the Sound of Music.
David Kiem, a CSC alumnus and science teacher at Crawford High School, will teach students how to use 3D printers, and work with drones and robot kits. Recent CSC graduate Isna Patel from India will teach a Hindi language class, and two guest chefs will visit the cooking class taught by Gaston.
“The students always look forward to the cooking class. It teaches them necessary, hands-on skills for when they are out of school and on their own,” Barry said.
Four winners of the essay contest in the English course taught by Kelly Cooper McLendon, an English teacher at Crawford High School, will travel to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, with Barry and other staff later this year.
An additional aspect of the Summer Upward Bound program is the opportunity for upperclassmen to complete paid internships in lieu of afternoon activities.
Barry said one student did an internship as a pilot program last year. This year, Riley Ambrose will intern with Jim Gardner at an accounting firm, Trinity Bannon is interning with Kara Benavidez who does equine therapy, Aisha Corral will intern with Courtney Kouba, and Ty Brady is interning with Laure Sinn, both at the Mari Sandoz High Plains Heritage Center.
“I'm excited for these four to get hands-on experience, to see what it's like to have a real job, and gain behind-the-scenes knowledge,” Barry said. “I want to keep growing and expanding the internship program. Eventually, I'd like to see every junior and senior in our summer program have an internship opportunity. That'll help them grow and prepare for their future.”
This year, at the end of the summer program, the group will travel to Yellowstone National Park and participate in activities such as whitewater rafting and horseback riding.