Published: August 15, 2008 04:51 pm            

Central College hosts Upward Bound

Area students were among 143 students, including 98 Upward Bound (UB) and 45 Upward Bound Math and Science (UBMS) students, who participated in Upward Bound June 8-July 17 on the campus of Central College in Pella.

Upward Bound is a year-round program for high school students, with main activities held during the summers after their freshman, sophomore, junior and senior years. This federally-funded initiative helps prepare eligible high school students for higher education.

Central’s Upward Bound Math and Science program currently is only federally-funded UBMS program in Iowa and is specifically geared for high school students interested in pursuing careers in math or science fields.

The program’s curriculum includes courses in science, mathematics, the arts and humanities, as well as a number of social events, including a trip to Kansas City, Mo. While there, students attended High School Musical, went to a Kansas City T-Bones baseball game, viewed exhibits at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of art, went to Worlds of Fun and toured the University of Missouri-Kansas City and William Jewell College. UBMS students stayed an extra day and played mini-golf, toured Garmin Ltd., a global company that makes navigation and communication devices, and visited the University of Kansas School of Medicine and met with Teresa Crowe, chief pediatric resident and a 2002 Central College graduate.

The annual awards banquet was July 11. Three major awards were announced including recipients of the Upward Bound emerging leader award, the Upward Bound spirit award and the Upward Bound Math and Science Scholar of Excellence award. The first award recognizes first or second-year students who have provided positive leadership within the program, modeling community values and engaging others. This year’s recipients were Dawn McFadden, a senior from North High School; Blaize VanRheenen, a junior from Pella High School; Eva Jones, a junior from Southeast Polk High School; and Alex West, a sophomore from Southeast Polk High School.

The Upward Bound spirit award is given to students who, over their tenure in the program, have consistently exemplified the spirit of Upward Bound through their performance in the classroom, active participation in the program, strong and positive leadership and ability to serve as role models for others. Josh Hanesack, a recent graduate of Lincoln High School, and DeeAnn Hutchinson, a recent graduate of Albia, received the UB spirit award.

Pella High School students included: Andy Johnson, junior, UB; Marshall Romero, bridge, UB; Blaize Van Rheenen, junior, UBMS; Mitchell Van Zante, sophomore, UB; Jordan Stocker, sophomore, UBMS; Allisa Vue, senior, UB; Pafoua Vue, sophomore, UB; Elizabeth Yang, sophomore, UB; Ruth Yang, junior, UB.

        

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