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Greetings,
One of the best ways to encourage students about higher education is to help them see the possibilities that await them with their own eyes. This summer, I had the opportunity to participate in an event that helped them do just that, as several students in Marquette University's Upward Bound and Upward Bound Math and Science programs attended a national tour of colleges and universities sponsored by Great Lakes.
The Upward Bound college tour program gives students a chance to experience first-hand what college campuses are like. And that's an invaluable experience, as the students that Upward Bound targets -- mostly low-income and first generation students -- rarely get the opportunity to visit colleges and universities outside of their home state. Partnering with programs like Upward Bound gives us a way to help motivate these students and help them see that college truly is a possibility for them.
I met up with the students in Washington, D.C., and we visited several colleges and universities, including Johns Hopkins University, American University, the Naval Academy, Catholic University, and Howard University. It was such an amazing experience to be able to interact with the students and see them make plans to go to college. The trip especially had a big impact on the students who had never been outside of Wisconsin before, giving them a taste of the opportunities available to them for the first time. One student in particular said that even though she was a little scared to leave Wisconsin at first, the trip was definitely worth it. By the end of the tour, she had decided that she would "definitely" attend college -- she just needed to figure out where! Being a part of the trip, and seeing how much it affected these students, is an experience I'll never forget.
When we get involved with and support programs like Upward Bound, we can help to increase students' awareness of the benefits higher education offers. And sometimes, opening the doors of education to students can be as simple as opening their eyes to the opportunities that lie ahead.
Until next time, have a great month!
La Toya Sykes, Director
Outreach and Access Awareness
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