For a group of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Upward Bound Program students, visiting various colleges proved to be important and exciting trips.
“I got to see firsthand those college campuses that I was most interested in attending,” said Dajanae Jackson, a student in Upward Bound EC, who is a senior at East St. Louis Senior High School. “I was able to talk with some of the staff and hear from current students about their college experience.”
Jackson was one of approximately 40 Upward Bound students who finished a summer of college touring. Upward Bound students visited various schools over the summer. They toured SIUE on July 1. Most recently, they visited Illinois State University, Harold Washington College, Loyola University and Illinois Wesleyan University from Tuesday-Friday, July 26-29.
“College tours are very important for our students, because it exposes them to campuses and enrichment activities that they otherwise may not ever have an opportunity to experience,” said Upward Bound Program Director Javonda Quinn. “For many of the students, the schools we take them to are ones they have expressed interest in attending and are ultimately schools they enroll in.”
Jackson said she enjoyed touring the campuses.
“It was good to be able to visit many campuses,” Jackson continued, “I learned about the majors at the different schools, and what I need to do to be accepted in their programs.”
Tyler Bonner, an Upward Bound EC student and a senior in SIUE East St. Louis Charter High School, found it beneficial to get financial aid and scholarship information during the various college tours. He is considering majoring in audio engineering, composition and African history.
“We are thrilled that underclassmen like Jackson and Bonner are able to attend these important college tours,” said Jesse Dixon, executive director of the SIUE East St. Louis Center. “This is just the second year where Upward Bound is doing a separate college trip just for freshmen and sophomores. We believe that getting these younger students excited about going to college will inspire them to be more focused and work even harder to meet their goals.”
TRIO Upward Bound, is a federally-funded year-round academic program designed to help students enter into and complete post-secondary education. Participants receive instruction in literature, composition, mathematics and science on college campuses after school, on Saturdays and during the summer.
UB serves students from grades 9-12 from the following high schools: East St. Louis and Cahokia (EC) and Brooklyn, East St. Louis Charter and Madison (BEM).
With a focus on empowering people and strengthening communities, the SIUE East St. Louis Center is dedicated to improving the lives of families and individuals - from pre-school through adult - in the Metro East. Head Start/Early Head Start and a charter high school are among the programs that offer the community renewed hope and an opportunity to reach educational, career and life goals. The Center also assigns first priority to encouraging, supporting and improving the educational success of the residents of East St. Louis and surrounding urban communities. The Center provides comprehensive programs, services and training in the areas of education, health, social services and the arts.
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Upward Bound students enjoy recent trips to various colleges in the region.