For more information, contact: April M. Fatula Director of News Services (501) 279-4398 [email protected]August 31, 2007 Upward Bound students join Harding family, add to program success SEARCY, Ark. — Harding University’s Upward Bound program not only prepared 10 Arkansas high school students for continuing education careers last year, but its campus also became home to three graduates for the fall 2007 semester. Colby Bell of McCrory and Kevin Boyce of Searcy are roommates this year in Arm- strong Hall. They are representative of the two most common camps of freshmen: Bell already knows he wants to major in English and become a professor, while Boyce has no idea about his future career plans. However, both Bell and Boyce have a familiarity with Harding’s campus other students in their dorm do not. Both men have been taking classes regularly since 2003 when they were in the 9th grade at their respective schools, McCrory High School and Searcy High School. That year both of them made the decision to enroll in Harding’s Upward Bound program, which was a decision to remain committed to their ultimate goal — success in high school and college. Becca Jones of Pangburn made the same important decision as a high school fresh- man. Now she has begun her freshman year at Harding with Boyce and Bell and is already diving into a challenging nursing program. Before she became involved in Upward Bound, going to college was not high on her priority list. “If it weren’t for Upward Bound, I wouldn’t be here,” Jones said. “There was not a lot of pressure from my family to go to college, but the program drastically changed me. Now I’m ready for any college.” Harding implemented its Upward Bound program, one of 10 among Arkansas universities, in 1995 with a grant from the U.S. Department of Education. In May, the program received federal refunding for $287,881 a year for four years. The program is currently equipped to serve 55 high school students from seven
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For more information, contact:April M. FatulaDirector of News Services(501) [email protected]
August 31, 2007
Upward Bound students join Harding family, add to program success
SEARCY, Ark. — Harding University’s Upward Bound program not only prepared 10 Arkansas high school students for continuing education careers last year, but its campus also became home to three graduates for the fall 2007 semester.
Colby Bell of McCrory and Kevin Boyce of Searcy are roommates this year in Arm-strong Hall. They are representative of the two most common camps of freshmen: Bell already knows he wants to major in English and become a professor, while Boyce has no idea about his future career plans.
However, both Bell and Boyce have a familiarity with Harding’s campus other students in their dorm do not. Both men have been taking classes regularly since 2003 when they were in the 9th grade at their respective schools, McCrory High School and Searcy High School. That year both of them made the decision to enroll in Harding’s Upward Bound program, which was a decision to remain committed to their ultimate goal — success in high school and college.
Becca Jones of Pangburn made the same important decision as a high school fresh-man. Now she has begun her freshman year at Harding with Boyce and Bell and is already diving into a challenging nursing program. Before she became involved in Upward Bound, going to college was not high on her priority list.
“If it weren’t for Upward Bound, I wouldn’t be here,” Jones said. “There was not a lot of pressure from my family to go to college, but the program drastically changed me. Now I’m ready for any college.”
Harding implemented its Upward Bound program, one of 10 among Arkansas universities, in 1995 with a grant from the U.S. Department of Education. In May, the program received federal refunding for $287,881 a year for four years.
The program is currently equipped to serve 55 high school students from seven
schools within White and Woodruff counties. Students must meet certain financial and circumstantial requirements — namely being a prospective first-generation college student — to be eligible for the program. Students are involved in the program for the duration of high school.
During the school year, students spend two or three Saturdays each month at Harding for tutoring sessions designed to enhance their current high school curriculum. Then for five weeks in the summer, the Summer Academy prepares students for the upcoming academic year. They live in Harding dorms and take classes based on their upcoming course schedules. After graduation, students take a summer school course at Harding for college credit, earning up to three hours before they even become freshmen.
“The best part of Upward Bound was being at Summer Academy,” Bell said. “I got to see how college life really is, and I became really familiar with a college campus.”
Students who consistently earned good grades or improved poor ones were rewarded with educational trips after Summer Academy. Jones said those group trips were part of the program’s appeal for her. She was able to tour multiple universities and museums and even went to St. Louis this past summer.
Bell said he feels very prepared for college because of Upward Bound. “I learned to listen more critically and really get the information down,” he said. “Now I’m on a familiar campus, positive that I made a good decision to come to Harding.”
Jones said her science tutors, who were pre-med majors at Harding, helped her bring her junior year chemistry class grade from a D up to a B. “Some kids might not want to give up their Saturdays in high school,” Jones said. “But I learned how to really buckle down and succeed in school.”
In addition to tutoring, students also participate in workshops to learn about different majors, time management, study skills and living away from home. Many students also develop lasting relationships with Upward Bound staff.
“The relationships formed here are lifelong. Unlike public school teachers, we’ve had four years to develop personal relationships with these students. We can understand their outlook on life and goals,” director Katrina Smeltzer said.
“I know I can go to any of the staff if I ever needed anything,” Jones said. “They are my mentors, and they are constantly checking on me and other students, whether or not they’re at Harding.”
“One of the best parts of Harding’s program is the administrators and dedicated staff,” Boyce said. “They taught me you don’t shouldn’t wait to be great; you should try your hardest all the time.”
Senior Jordan Harguess has been a tutor since 2004 and was a Summer Academy Resident Assistant this year. She said, “I still keep in touch with some of my former students, whether I see them on campus or message them on Facebook.”
Harding is the largest private university in Arkansas and attracts more National Merit Scholars than any other private university in the state. This year, another record enrollment of nearly 6,300 students is expected. The student body represents 50 states and more than 50 foreign countries. Harding also maintains campuses in Australia, Chile, England, France/Switzerland, Greece, Italy and Zambia.
