Upward Bound

Quotes from UB Scholars

Current UB senior, Kevin Wasielewski  “This program will forever change my life. It is more than a place to spend my time, and more than just a college preparatory program. It has transformed my life in a very positive way. The faculty and staff are dedicated to helping each student learn in a manner that they will be able to understand. They work around the clock throughout the year to help each student to be prepared for college and succeed in their endeavor. This type of involvement and support is not typical of a regular high school teacher. This is special. For six weeks each summer I attended a camp, experiencing life similar to a college environment.

"I’ve been exposed to themes of diversity-race, spirituality, and sexuality. This type of atmosphere will greatly prepare me for college and for life."

Juan Avendano, 2001 UB alumnus, junior in UMass Amherst engineering program “For my summer college internship I worked for a world-renowned professor in polymer science and biomedical engineering. I did research under her focusing on target drug delivery.  Thanks to programs like UB and the staff that served as mentors and counselors very early in our high school stage, it's why I have made it so far to where I am right now.” 

Joel Rivera, 1994 UB Alumnus  "I graduated from Bradford College in '98 with a BA in Humanities with a concentration in Spanish. In 1998 I moved to the New York City area and have been here since working in workforce development. I currently am involved in Welfare-to-Work initiatives. This January I started graduate school; in February I will have graduated with an MS in Organizational Leadership. I believe that without the experience of the Upward Bound Program I would not have gone on to college and I would not be where I am today, a program manager working with two contracts. Let's keep Upward Bound alive!" 

Danielle E. Brown, UB Alumna 2001, junior at Bridgewater State College, UB Summer Employee "I work for the Upward Bound summer program because I love the program so much I feel the need to give back. Thanks to Upward Bound I am living my dream of attending college and I have solid life-long friendships with other people from the program who continue to challenge me and push me to be the best that I can be. They have changed my life so profoundly that I simply cannot imagine what I would have done without them. 

"I see so many of the kids here this summer enjoying the program the same way I did when I was a student. I see them smile when a friend gives them a wave, or dance in triumph when they master a new skill. I see them learn skills because of amazing teachers who take the time to teach in a way that students will remember. I see once-shy kids speaking up at meetings, hanging out with new people, and gaining confidence. I see students making friends that will last a lifetime and kids learning about other cultures, languages, and beliefs—and accepting those things. I see the diversity that lives within them all stretch out and encompass each and every one of them in a new blanket of understanding. Most of all, in these students, I see myself in their shoes, a few years ago, quietly gaining the strength from Upward Bound to become the wonderfully well-rounded young woman I am today."