Students, staff and leaders were honored last week at the academic enrichment recognition and 50th anniversary celebration of the TRIO Upward Bound Program at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Center.
The TRIO Upward Bound programs at the ESLC are “federally funded outreach and student services programs designed to identify and provide services for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds,” according to Darryl Cherry, program director. TRIO Programs, according to their website, target low-income individuals, first-generation college students, and individuals with disabilities to advance them from middle school to post-baccalaureate programs.
SIUE was awarded its first Upward Bound (UB) program in 1967 and has one of the oldest and recognizable programs in the country. SIUE currently has three Upward Bound programs that include: Upward Bound Brooklyn, East St. Louis Charter and Madison (BEM), Upward Bound East St. Louis and Cahokia (EC) and Upward Bound Math & Science.
The student recognition portion of the program awarded current Upward Bound BEM and EC students for achievements they made throughout the year. The TRIO anniversary celebration honored former and current students, staff and administrators who excelled and helped others do the same.
Some of the program guests included East St. Louis Mayor Alvin Parks, a former Upward Bound student; along with Larry Hogg and Elvin Davis, former Upward Bound counselors.
Special recognitions included a congratulatory letter from U.S. Congressman William Enyart, a state TRIO proclamation from State Sen. James Clayborne Jr. (D-Belleville) and an East St. Louis City proclamation read by Parks.
Spotlighted for his tremendous achievement was Dr. Kendall T. Harris, P.E., former Upward Bound student and East St. Louis native. Harris, dean of the Roy G. Perry College of Engineering at Prairie View A & M University, congratulated the TRIO programs via video and shared how Upward Bound contributed to his successes.
SIUE East St. Louis Center: 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 region. The Center offers 
programs that gives the community renewed hope and an opportunity to reach educational, career and life goals. It does so by providing comprehensive programs, services and training in the areas of education, health, social services and the arts.
Photos:
Darryl Cherry, Upward Bound BEM and EC program director, gives the national history of TRIO Upward Bound programs.
Marq Quinn, Upward Bound BEM and SIUE East St. Louis Charter High School student, offers some reflections.
DeAmbra Loveless, Upward Bound BEM and SIUE East St. Louis Charter High School student, performs for the crowd.
Alicia Johnson (right) Upward Bound BEM teaching consultant, awards one of her students, Seth Luster. In background are Shrylene Clark-Langston, SIUE East St. Louis Center assistant director, and Dr. Andrew Theising, outgoing SIUE East St. Louis Center director.