Upward Bound program propels students toward college
Western Heights High School graduate Miguel Chavez refers to the Upward Bound college prep program at Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City as his “launching pad” to a brighter future. He entered the program as a high school freshman without much of a plan, and is now a firstgeneration college student heading to the University of Oklahoma and then to Cornell University to study economics and sociology.
“At my high school, 87 percent of the students are on free and reduced lunches,” Miguel said. “I always thought it would be cool to go to college and knew I was capable, but I didn’t have a clue about how to make it happen. Upward Bound opened up a new world for me by giving me direction on how this could work, and guidance on how to look for scholarships and experiences.”
Miguel received 13 scholarships totaling $300,000 when he graduated from high school in the spring.
In addition to the academic support, the program covers costs such as taking the ACT and science calculators. But Miguel said things that don’t have a price tag, such as networking, building good friendships and mentoring, are what matter most.
Upward Bound serves students from Western Heights, Northwest Classen and Putnam City West high schools with academic enrichment, counseling and leadership opportunities. There is no cost to attend Upward Bound, with guidelines based on income, education level of parents and academic need.
“Prime candidates are students who have the desire and potential for college but, due to certain challenges in their lives, require an additional support system to achieve their education goals,” said Francie Moss, OSU-OKC Upward Bound director. “Ninety-eight percent of our Upward Bound students go to college and are the first in their families to do so.”
Jenny Ha, a senior at Western Heights High School, is another Upward Bound success story. She did not participate in the program this summer because she was in South Korea on a scholarship from the National Security Language Initiative for Youth, one of only 600 students from across the nation to participate in the initiative.
Last year, she served on First Lady Michelle Obama’s Better Make Room Advisory Board, a public awareness campaign designed to help students ages 14-19 celebrate education and navigate the college process. A Vietnamese first-generation American, Jenny said that honor meant a great deal to her.
“I am so grateful for the Upward Bound program,” Jenny said. “The faculty and the students have been beyond encouraging and that is something rare to find. I have left the program with an unbreakable determination to succeed.”
Moss said Miguel and Jenny are typical of the caliber of students in Upward Bound.
“After graduation, many of our Upward Bound alumni come back as counselors and volunteers because they want to see others succeed. We have created this positive cycle of reinforcement and support,” Moss said.
Upward Bound students attend a six-week summer session that includes activities and field trips. Upward Bound remains in contact with the students during the school year through monthly meetings, college campus tours, academic testing and evaluation, tutoring, career exploration and preparation for college entrance exams and financial aid counseling. Volunteering is also a big part of the program.
Sandy Pantlik is senior director of OSUOKC Marketing and Communications.