The Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and TRIO Upward Bound Programs hosted the Upward Bound Student Showcase and Summer Closing Ceremony on July 11 in the Kent Student Center.
There were about 130 students who participated in the Student Showcase, including students from the three Upward Bound Programs: Classic, Math/Science Bio-Scholars and Public Health. The students came from Barberton, Akron, Warren, Canton, Ravenna, Windham and Lorain communities.
Four years ago, Upward Bound switched to a Student Showcase program, instead of a colloquium-style presentation.
“We moved to the Student Showcase format to give all our students the opportunity to present, tell what they have learned during the summer and be exposed to the many university, community and family members that attend the event,” says Thomas Jefferson, 91ֿ interim director for Upward Bound Classic.
There were many different highlights of the closing ceremonies, says Jefferson. There was a fashion show of clothes designed and made by students in the fashion elective, Excelsior Radio students played a radio commentary they created in their Producing for Radio elective, two students created and produced a video about May 4, and students from John R. Buchtel Community Learning Center presented research about stereotyping. In addition, students received awards for their academics and the Upward Bound Choir sang two selections.
“We can always tell people how great our programs are, but the Student Showcase and closing ceremonies give students the opportunities to tell their own stories and truly show how much these programs mean to them,” Jefferson says.
According to Jefferson, during the first week students were homesick and by the end of the program they did not want to go home.
Twelve Upward Bound students participated in a Senior-to-Bridge program. They took two college-level courses for high school and college credit, and at the end of the five-week session, they earned six college credits.
For more information about 91ֿ’s TRIO program, visit www.kent.edu/asc/trio/index.cfm.