Friday, June 3, 2011

Upward Bound students shine at awards banquet

More than 100 area high school students enrolled in Daytona State’s TRiO Upward Bound program reaped the bounty of their persistence during a ceremony held Thursday on the Daytona Beach Campus.

In addition to honoring the graduating class of 2011, selected students also received awards and accolades for their academic performance, extracurricular and co-curricular activities, and volunteer service, including peer counseling/tutoring their fellow Upward Bound participants.
“We are very proud of all our students, as well as the team of dedicated staff who work to ensure their success,” said Dora Giddens, associate director of the program. “Since Daytona State College began offering the Upward Bound program in 2004, we have been able to make a significant impact in the lives of hundreds of students, which in turn improves the lives of everyone in our community.”
TRiO Upward Bound is a federally funded program that helps prepare high school students for college. Programs are offered at the college’s Daytona Beach and Deltona campuses through its Division of Alternative Student Services. Upward Bound primarily serve students attending Deltona, Mainland and Pine Ridge high schools who demonstrate financial need in accordance with federal income guidelines, who show strong interest in or potential for college admission, and who would be first-generation college students upon admission.
Depending on their individual needs, students participate in educational activities to build their academic skills, increase motivation and improve self-confidence. Personal, career and academic counseling, prescriptive instruction and tutorial assistance in math, science, English and foreign languages are key components of the program.
Students also are eligible to receive incentive stipends and participate in educational and cultural enrichment activities. The program administers Saturday and Summer Academies and culminates with the Summer Bridge program, transitioning the graduating high school seniors to their first year as college students.
To view a listing of this year’s graduates and award recipients, download the banquet program here.
Congratulations to all our TRiO Upward Bound participants!