Upward Bound celebrated its Second Annual Senior
Recognition Luncheon.

Kent State University’s Division of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and its Upward Bound Programs celebrated the Second Annual Senior Recognition Luncheon and the Parent Advisory Council’s Scholarship Presentation on May 14 in the Kent Student Center Ballroom. The ceremony honors graduating high school seniors who participated in Kent State’s TRiO Upward Bound programs.

“The event is special because it uplifts and highlights the success of area high school students, over half of which plan to enroll in Kent State,” says Dana Lawless-Andric, director of the pre-college and TRiO Upward Bound programs at Kent State.

The TRiO Upward Bound programs aim to prepare students for enrollment, retention and graduation from institutions of higher education. TRiO is a set of federally funded programs which seeks to motivate and support students from disadvantaged backgrounds. The programs target first-generation college students.

“Kent State benefits by having these programs provide a pipeline for prepared, diverse students who may eventually enroll into Kent State,” Lawless-Andric says.

Students participate in weekly academic and career preparation activities, Saturday academies and summer institutes with outreach events and tours, along with work study and internship experiences.

A recent study of Kent State Upward Bound students showed that 89 percent of students enrolled in post-secondary education after completing the program, with 75 percent persisting toward or having attained a bachelor’s degree.

“Upward Bound students are committed to their future and educational pursuits; they are students who understand what it means to work hard to reach your goals and the value of an education,” Lawless-Andric says. “Our students are leaders and going on to become amazing citizens who will and have impacted their communities.”

For more information about Kent State’s Pre-College/Upward Bound programs, visit www.kent.edu/diversity/pipeline/precollege.