The Upward Bound students will perform a community service task on December 11th at the Manning courthouse, which will include handing out masks to the community. This will start at 3 p.m. and last until 5 p.m. The upward bound students have participated in numerous community service activities, such as distributing Christmas cards to the elderly in nursing homes. They have also created individually packed snacks for the medical personnel in Mcleod Health located in Manning. The program is currently competing for a grant to operate for the next five years in order to continue the grant they have used for the previous five years, for which Is applied through the Department of Education.
Upward Bound is a program funded by the U.S. Department of Education. Students in Upward Bound receive critical assistance in preparing for college entrance. The program provides students with opportunities to succeed in their precollege performance and, eventually, in their higher education pursuits. Upward Bound serves high school students from low-income families as well as high school students whose parents do not have a bachelor’s degree. Upward Bound’s goal is to increase the number of participants who complete secondary school, enroll in, and graduate from postsecondary institutions. Steve Evans is the program coordinator for the Clarendon County Upward Bound program at Manning High School, which is a USC Sumter grant which is funded through the federal government.
Since 2012, Steve has been involved with college readiness programs. Evans began this journey working for a program similar to the Upward Bound Program at Francis Marion. He has been working with Upward Bound for a total of 4 years now. Evans expresses how important college exposure is for students in making decisions about their immediate futures. Kyndall Locklear is the academic advisor for the Upward Bound program at Manning High School. She is there to assist students involved in the program with their classes and help prepare them for their academic studies. Lisa Rosdail has been the director Upward bound/ Trio for the past five years it has been in effect. Rosdail has been involved in the trio grant program for over twenty two years.
Students from grade 9th-12th can participate in Upward Bound if they meet the criteria for the program. All students must come from low-income families or be first-generation college students to be considered for the program. Students must also undergo a parent and student interview to inform parents about the program’s opportunities. Students who enroll in the program must attend a monthly meeting on a certain Saturday of each month.
This program is completely free for students who plan to participate and attend. Many opportunities can be reached and discovered through this program. Upward bound students are served tutoring offers, which include ACT practice and any other assistance and guidance they require to be successful.They provide mentoring, counseling, and field trips to colleges in South Carolina. The Upward Bound program provides its students with a wide range of additional options and guidance.
Once students achieve their goal of getting into college, the program is no longer as active as it was in high school, such as going on field trips. They are still involved with their students, having check-ins and advising them on which classes they should take.
“It’s very rewarding to know that you’ve made a difference in a child’s life and that they can be successful and be who they want to be when they grow up,” Rosdail said when asked what she enjoys most about being the director of the upward bound program.
