Educational Opportunity: Low Income, first generation students and Upward Bound

The session I attended was hosted and presented by Elyse Pratt Ronco and her panel. During the session, the panel explained that for first generation college students and students with low income/socioeconomic status, it is harder for them to get into college and succeed. High school students have difficulties in traveling to visit colleges, attaining college applications and college information, find academic support, etc. In Maine, 14 to 16% of the poor. So, to assist these kinds of people, a program was formed called Upper Bounds. Upper Bounds is funded by the Department of Education in Washington, DC. The program grants money and and financial support (stipends) to students in high school that live under these circumstances. With the program, students join a summer program that includes academics, personal support, college information, college visits, cultural events, etc. The program ensures that high students are being motivated and supported in their pursuit of a better education. I definitely thought that this session was helpful because I began to think of how schools could improve so that programs such as Upper Bound do not have to make up for the lack in our school system. I also thought that by giving students these opportunities, we are allowing our students to go beyond just successing... we are providing academically diverse students to live through meaningful experiences.