Upward Bound

An Olympic swimmer at the peak of their profession can, at best, blaze across a 50-meter pool in under 25 seconds. That’s with Goldilocks conditions—decades of training, supreme reaction time, and the perfect dismount. It’s a feat of athleticism few can truly appreciate or relate to. Now imagine trying to do the same task, but in a cardboard boat engineered and assembled by a group of high schoolers. One group of Wesleyan’s Upward Bound students did just that. They hopped into a small vessel with two recyclable paddles in hand and hit the water with calculated rhythm, momentum, and determination…

For many first-generation and low-income students, simply the idea of attending college can be daunting. The cost of higher education might be prohibitive. The application process can be complicated and overwhelming. Even with a committed support network, it can all be too much. “Oftentimes for first-generation students, college is not something that's expected … It is now starting to be a little bit more like ‘hey, you should go to college’ but it is not as widespread as in more affluent communities,” said Miguel Peralta, director of Wesleyan's Upward Bound Math-Science program. The Upward Bound Math-Science program is pulling down…

How did a young refugee from Iraq inspire a high school student from New Britain, Conn., to write a poem that went on to be performed by a 100-person choir made up of high schoolers from around the East Coast? It all began at Wesleyan. Ahmed Badr ’20 was born in Iraq and came to the United States as a refugee in 2008, after his family’s home in Baghdad was bombed by militia troops. As he struggled to adjust to life in the U.S., he started a personal blog to write about his experiences, and “found it incredibly empowering” to…

The Wesleyan Upward Bound Math-Science Program is in full swing here on the Wesleyan campus. The year-round program, which serves low-income, first-generation and under-represented rising freshman through high school seniors, serves 90 to 100 students during the academic year and approximately 70 students during its six-week summer session. The program's director, Teshia Levy-Grant '00 was a first-generation student at Wesleyan. "I recognize the need,” she said. “I know what it’s like to try to navigate the education system, and I want to help these students succeed.” The grant-funded program relies on the support of volunteer tutors, many of whom are Wesleyan students.…

The U.S. Department of Education awarded Wesleyan's Upward Bound Math-Science Program with a $1,250,000 grant on Sept. 12, 2012. The award will be used to support the program through Sept. 30, 2018. Wesleyan's Upward Bound Math-Science and Collaborative Programs prepare hundreds of local youth (from elementary school to high school) for college and strengthen their math and science skills by providing rigorous academic summer experiences as well as ongoing academic enrichment and tutorial support, college visits, and assistance with prep school, college application and financial application processes during the school year.

(more…)

Beverly Hunter-Daniel, director of the Wesleyan Public Schools Collaborative for the Upward Bound Program, received a Educational Incentive Challenge Grant worth $8,000 from the City of Middletown Youth Service Advisory Board.

Donna Thompson, director of the Upward Bound Program, received a grant worth $212,965 from the Connecticut Department of Higher Education for fiscal year 2011.

Willard M. McRae, co-founder of Wesleyan's Upward Bound Program, recently received Liberty Bank’s ninth annual Community Diversity Award. The Community Diversity Award was introduced in 2001 to recognize people who build bridges between those of different races, economic backgrounds, faiths, cultures and capabilities, according to the bank. McRae was awarded at a reception among area dignitaries at St. Clements Castle in Portland, Conn., in late October for his lifelong dedication to creating opportunities for children and adults in the areas of education, mental health and human services. In presenting the award, Liberty Bank President and CEO Chandler Howard called attention to…

For 40 years, Wesleyan's Upward Bound Program has prepared hundreds of underrepresented local youth for college by providing rigorous academic summer experiences, motivational "boot camps," college visits, and assistance with the challenging college application and financial application processes. On Nov. 10, Upward Bound will celebrate its 40th anniversary inside Wesleyan's newly renovated Fayerweather Building in the Edgar F. Beckham Hall. Beckham was one of the Upward Bound founders, and along with Willard McRae and others, they had a vision that local, low-income students should have the opportunity to consider the college dream. "Upward Bound has been empowering eligible youth to…

Wesleyan’s Upward Bound Students Traverse Freeman Pool in Cardboard Vessels

Wesleyan’s Upward Bound Helps Local Students Prepare for College

Badr ’20 Guides Upward Bound Students to Write about Their Experiences

High School Students are Upward Bound at Wesleyan

Upward Bound Students Participate in 6-Week Program at Wesleyan

Department of Education Supports Upward Bound’s Math-Science Program

Upward Bound Students Tour the Wesleyan Sciences

City of Middletown Awards Upward Bound with Challenge Grant

Thompson Awarded Education Grant for Upward Bound

Upward Bound Co-Founder Honored for Community Service

Upward Bound Celebrates 40th Anniversary