Elkins – The Davis & Elkins College Upward Bound program welcomed new participants during the November Challenge Session hosted on the College campus. A federally funded TRiO program, Upward Bound is designed to prepare high school students for post-secondary success.
“We are eager to welcome our new participants,” said Carol Suder-Howes, director of the D&E Upward Bound program. “Our mission is to guide our current 138 students through secondary and post-secondary success. Our most recent annual performance reports, submitted to the U.S. Department of Education, illustrate our successful efforts with more than 60 percent of our alumni graduating and completing baccalaureate programs. This is well above both the college completion rates of 18.7 percent for the state and 29.3 for the nation.”
The program provides services to students who would be the first generation in their family to complete a four-year degree or those who meet income guidelines. The program’s goal is to ensure that these students graduate high school and pursue and complete post-secondary education.
The Davis & Elkins College Upward Bound programs serve students from Barbour, Pendleton, Pocahontas, Randolph and Tucker counties.
Members of the new class are, Pendleton County High School, Kelsey Alt, Stephanie Amick, Kristin Bodkin, Haylee Gregory, Bintou Kaba, Kaley Kimble, Joelle Ruddle and Josie Smith; Philip Barbour High School, Seth Croston, Ethan Edmond, McKenzie England, Nathan Gambrell, Kayla Lamkin, Haley Mallow, Kylie Marks, Gage Poling and Mikala Starkey; Pocahontas County High School, Emalee Arbogast, Lindsay Browning, Cheyenna Campbell, Kyle Cohenour, Bella Dean, Courtney Dunbrack, Josey Faris, Jarod Liptrap, Brianna Nielsen, Jordan Nutter and Taylor Tegtmeyer; Elkins High School, Alisha Arbogast, Beth Butcher, Jessica Gibson, Mikayla Goins, Allyssa Maize, Meghan Merritt, Madison Myers and Jessica Nguyen; Harman High School, Kyle Clements, Kayla Mullennex and Alyssa VanMeter; Tygarts Valley High School, Devan Ball, Katlynn Bolyard, Hannah Cogar, Katy Defibaugh, Shannon Ferrell, Ava Holt, Salena Martin, Bethany Ogden, Caitlyn Swecker and Calista Walcuk; and Tucker County High School, Inza Pacella.
During the academic year, D&E Upward Bound students participate in monthly activities that consist of various academic topics such as career, financial aid, cultural and community service.
Upward Bound students are also required to take part in two hours of tutoring, which prepares them for standardized tests, career, and college and scholarship explorations. They meet weekly with academic and school advisers in their high schools.
Students not selected are placed on a waiting list. If an opening becomes available, the program will select from that list.
Established during President Lyndon B. Johnson’s administration, the Upward Bound program provides services to students who would be the first generation in their family to complete a four-year degree or those who meet income guidelines. Davis & Elkins College’s Upward Bound programs receive funding, totaling $664,878, from the U.S. Department of Education with all project services provided at no costs to participants.
