MOREHEAD, Ky. — Today Morehead State will welcome hundreds of high school students to campus for its 53rd annual Upward Bound summer programs, which continue through July 5.
MSU UB has two distinct programs, UB Classic and UB Math and Science, serving more than 225 students in 16 Eastern Kentucky counties including Bath, Boyd, Carter, Elliott, Fleming, Harrison, Johnson, Lawrence, Lewis, Magoffin, Mason, Menifee, Montgomery, Morgan, Nicholas, Robertson and Rowan.
The programs seek to engage low-income and potential first-generation college students and equip them with the skills to prepare them for college.
“The goal is to help these underrepresented students get accepted into and be successful in postsecondary education,” said UB executive Director Amanda Lewis. “Currently the Upward Bound programs at MSU have an overall 98% postsecondary education enrollment rate for low income and first-generation college students. Of the 1,000 programs nationwide, the programs at MSU are one of the four largest.”
The programs offer instruction in math, laboratory sciences, composition, literature, financial literacy, college and career prep, and foreign languages. Participants also receive information on the college admissions process, scholarships, receive tutoring, counseling, mentoring, cultural enrichment trips, exposure to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) and internships. Students who are involved in the program spend four weeks on MSU’s campus each summer for a residential summer academy where they attend classes, go on college visits, attend cultural events and are exposed to college life.
“It is incredibly important as a first-generation student to learn what to expect or how to navigate higher education,” said Shayla Ring, UB academic bridge coordinator. “We simulate the college experience during our Summer Academy and continue throughout the academic year, providing assistance with scholarship and financial aid searches, going on college tours, providing cultural and social trips, and conducting ACT prep. We also have speakers that highlight money and time management, as well as numerous other lessons to support their success in higher education.”
In order to qualify for Upward Bound, students must apply to the program, write an admissions essay and be interviewed by UB staff.
For more information about Upward Bound at MSU, visit www.moreheadstate.edu/ub
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