TRiO: Upward Bound

HCC holds reception for TRIO Upward Bound students

Hagerstown Community College recently held its 8th annual TRIO Upward Bound Reception. The event represents an end-of-the-year celebration for the TRIO Upward Bound students and their achievements during the 2021-2022 school year.

Following remarks from Jim Klauber, president of HCC, attendees heard from student speaker Casey Douglas, and keynote speaker, Odell Bizzell. The awards were presented by Jim Mankins, TRIO Upward Bound manager, and Alex Goveo, advising and assessment specialist.

During the 2021-2022 school year, 49 students participated in the TRIO Upward Bound program. The program is a year-round college-preparatory program made possible through a $1.25 million, five-year grant from the U.S. Department of Education. The program is designed to assist low-income, and/or first-generation college bound high school students with the skills and motivation necessary to succeed in high school and college. Upward Bound offers a variety of services to students such as an after-school tutoring program, college visits and cultural enrichment activities, monthly Saturday session workshops during the school year, and a five-week summer academy program.

Recognition of academic excellence was awarded to the top students with the highest cumulative GPA for each high school. From Hancock Middle-Senior High School:

Haylee Penwell, Noah McCormick Fischer, and Keelyn Seal; from North Hagerstown High School: Leyla Hecht, Awa Badjie, and Aminata Badjie; from South Hagerstown High School: Aria Blue, Leslie Holmes, and Melvin Augustin; from Williamsport High School: Jenny Constanza Lainez, Nevaeh Goines, and Cindy Martinez Escobar; and from Tech High School: Sarah Otwey, Jasmin Fowlkes, and Brianna Buskirk. Additionally, Aria Blue was named the Upward Bound Scholar of the year for going above and beyond in Upward Bound activities.

HCC’s TRIO Upward Bound program is currently accepting applications for the 2022-2023 school year. For more information, visit www.hagerstowncc.edu/upwardbound.

(July, 26, 2022)