TRIO Upward Bound Celebrates 50th Anniversary

Indianapolis, IN (October 2014) – IUPUI will celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of Upward Bound, one of eight federal TRIO programs, on Wednesday, November 5, 2014 at Hine Hall Auditorium from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Melissa Lavitt, Senior Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs will be the featured speaker. The celebration will begin with a time of networking, followed by a short program and anniversary celebration. Music will be provided by acoustic guitarist Joel Tucker.

David Jones, an academic coordinator with the IUPUI Upward Bound program, describes Upward Bound as a college prep program for high school students in which “students understand college isn’t just a place; it’s a lifestyle.” The program has been at IUPUI since 1995 and is part of the student retention and success programs in IUPUI’s University College.

The Upward Bound program includes after school, mid-week, and summer programs to assist students in achieving their goals. Roxanne Gregg, director of the IUPUI Upward Bound program, states, “We partner with our [high] schools to be a support.” Students experience support in a multitude of ways such as financial and internship opportunities, fostering lasting relationships, learning how to work within a team environment, gaining confidence, and learning how to set and reach lifetime goals. During this past summer, 75 students enrolled in and completed the Upward Bound Summer Academy.

Gregg commented, “I’m very passionate about the population.” She particularly enjoys seeing Upward Bound students grow, mature, “and gain confidence in themselves.” 

Participants are from low-income families in which neither parent has a college degree. The aim of the program is to remove poverty from society and provide students with the education needed to obtain jobs while becoming productive in their communities.  

The mission of the TRIO programs as noted by the United States Department of Education is “to promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access” (www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/trio/index.html).

For more information, contact Harriett Bennett at 317-274-5036 or hbennett@iupui.edu.