The Edge:
A Publication
of Upward Bound
Senior Edition!
Staff Farewell Notes
June 2014
Class of 2014,
The great Nelson Mandela once said “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
Class of 2014, you are well on your way to changing this world. I would like to begin by telling each of you
congratulations on completing such a big step in your academic careers. Your life is better because of the good decisions
you have made so far, but the best is yet to come!
Personally, college was the greatest experience of my life. I learned so much about myself, matured, and made some
very powerful, long-lasting relationships that have aided me in my personal and professional life. To say college was
easy would be a lie. It was difficult; full of many struggles and hardships. Often, the thought of giving up crossed my
mind, but I am happy I didn’t. I would not have had the opportunity to meet each of you had I given up.
Equip yourselves with the tools you will need to face your obstacles head on. Never give up, no matter how impossible
the task may seem. Each of you is capable of great things and I await the day to hear about your continued wonderful
accomplishments. Lastly, always remember Upward Bound will always hold a special place for you so please keep in
touch. Not goodbye, only see you later!
Best of luck Class of 2014,
Mrs. Gonzales
Our UB Class of 2014,
It is with tremendous pride that I write to you all, as this means you’re stepping into your next phase in life as high
school graduates! Several of you have been around Upward Bound as long as I have, and I have had the extreme
pleasure of getting to know you the last three years. Every day has been a new, and exciting adventure as I’ve watched
you mature from nervous sophomores into confident seniors, and young adults. It has been a joy to witness the impact
our program has had on you all, and without knowing it, you all have been highly influential on me, as well. I have firsthand experience with your eagerness to learn, determination to succeed, and nothing gives me more pride in knowing
that you all are reaching to meet your highest potential. The future before you is no doubt a little intimidating, and you’ll
encounter a number of bumps and dips that will make you want to throw your hands in the air and quit, but let the goals
you each have for yourselves be your driving motivation to never give up. We’ll always be on the sidelines cheering for
you, and if you ever need anything, we’re never too far away. Don’t be afraid to take risks, or nervous to make mistakes,
because everything can be turned into a learning opportunity, and with experience comes knowledge, and with
knowledge comes power. Allow yourselves to have the power to control your own destinies and paths to success. You
all are stronger and capable beyond imagination! I am eternally grateful to have had the chance to meet the graduating
class of 2014, and look forward to seeing what the future holds in store for each of you.
Remember to stay positive, smile when times get tough, and lean on those who support and
encourage you.
Best Wishes,
Ms. Skaggs
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Dear 2014 Graduates,
Congratulations on making it to this step of the journey! You have worked very hard over the past
four years and it is a privilege to join you in this season of celebration. You each have a bright future
ahead of you and I'm very excited to see you continue to achieve your goals. The most important
piece of advice that I can give to you is to fully embrace this season of your life. Your college years
will be memorable, fun, challenging, and full of life lessons. Be open to meeting new people, trying
new things, and joining an organization or two.
I'm proud of you all and I know that our entire UB family is as well. Thank you for setting a good
example for other students and encouraging them to stay focused. I wish you all the best in the
transition to college life. Please keep in touch!
Ms. Tigney
Congratulations! You’ve done it! All of your hard work and determination has paid
off! It hasn’t always been easy I’m sure, but you persevered, and I am proud of each
of you for that! Many of you are paving the way for your friends and family to show
that college is not only an option, but that it’s a fantastic way to achieve your dreams
and goals in life. I hope for each of you, that Upward Bound has been a formative,
fun, and unforgettable experience but I want you to know that as AMAZING as
Upward Bound has been, your experience in college can be EVEN more incredible, (hard to believe,
I know). Get involved and get active in college and you will make memories, friendships, and grow in
ways you never imagined. Always remember that you are capable, valued, and you will always
have your UB family cheering you on! I believe that you each have the potential to be world
changers and can’t wait to see how you use your unique talents and gifts to make our world a better
place to live!
Ms. Hays
Congratulations Class of 2014!
I’ve had the pleasure over the last two years to get to know this great class of students.
When I reflect back to when I began working with Upward Bound, I think of those wild, loud,
brave sophomores I first met. Though you all still have those moments that drive us Advisors nuts,
overall I must say this class has grown up and matured a great deal. Take this time to relish in your
current accomplishments; for many of you graduating high school is just a stepping stone to a life
time full of achievements. With that said though, make sure to truly enjoy this moment before moving on to the next chapter in your life. There is nothing and no one in this world that can stop you
from obtaining your dreams but yourself. While each one of you will move on to begin different journeys, do not allow life’s unexpected curve balls to throw you off course. Nothing in life comes easy,
but I promise you if you keep focused on your goals, surround yourself with positive people, and
work hard you will achieve whatever you set your mind to. I have high hopes and dreams for this
group of students, and I cannot wait to see all you accomplish. If you ever need anything; a pep talk,
a recommendation letter, help with financial aid, anything at all, we will always be a phone call away.
Ms. Paiz
“Leap, and the net will appear.”
- John Burroughs
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Dear Graduating Seniors,
There is so much excitement in the air with graduation behind you and a new stage of your life
ahead of you. I am so proud of each and every one of you who worked so hard to successfully
complete your high school education. Now on to the important part of your new life, COLLEGE!
Your college life will be a new experience that you will carry with you for the rest of your life. Your
college career and completion is one of the most important accomplishments that you will have in
your lifetime. Completing and attaining your college degree will set you up for a better way of life for
you and for your family. Do not ever give up, no matter how much work it will take. You will be
abundantly thankful that you made the decision to commit to this worthy endeavor. Many blessings
to all of you!
Ms. Rivette
I have been blessed to work with Upward Bound students the past fourteen years and am still
amazed each year of our bright and talented students. It has been an honor to watch you grow,
develop, and leave to become all that I know you will.
Be proud of your accomplishments and know that there are many new experiences and accomplishments in your future. Chase your dreams with vigor and a good attitude and know that the
Upward Bound staff will always be there for you.
Please stay in touch…..we miss you already!
Mrs. Cates
We would like to send a special thank you to
Dr. Steve Head, Dr. Bennie Lambert, &
Carolyn Wade
for their outstanding support and dedication
to the Upward Bound program.
Without their support, none of this would be
possible!
“Don’t watch the clock; do what it does. Keep going.”
-Sam Levenson
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Pedro Amaya
College attending in fall:
Gerardo Aldana
College attending in fall:
Lone Star College-North Harris
Lone Star College-North Harris
Major: Health & Fitness
Major: Welding
Favorite UB Memory: All
the field trips.
Favorite UB Memory: The
leadership conference that I
got to go on.
Jair Aparicio
College attending this fall:
Vanessa Botello
College attending this fall:
Lone Star College-North Harris
Lone Star College-North Harris
Major: Computer Engineering
Major: Accounting
Favorite UB Memory: The
summer classes that we get
to take through Upward
Bound.
Favorite UB Memory: Being
able to meet new people and
being able to participate in
different field trips and activities.
Katia Bouza
College attending this fall:
Texas A&M-College Station
Xavier Cantu
College attending this fall:
Lone Star College-North Harris
Major: International Studies
Major: Criminal Justice
Favorite UB Memory:
When we went to Chicago. I
had the best time of my life.
It was a great experience.
Favorite UB Memory:
Meeting new people, having
fun, and learning a lot of
things for college.
Hana Corona
College attending this fall:
University of Houston –
Downtown
Naomi Creader
College attending this fall:
Lone Star College-North Harris
Major: Business Administration
Major: Criminal Justice
Favorite UB Memory: Going to visit Texas State with
my crew!
Favorite UB Memory:
Eating at the Time Machine
in San Antonio.
“Life has two rules: #1 Never quit #2 Always remember rule # 1.”
-Unknown
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Dinina Daniel
Demi Deleon
College attending this fall:
Sam Houston State University
College attending this fall:
Lone Star College-North
Harris
Major: Criminal Justice
Major: Music Education/
Health Science
Favorite UB Memory: Watching Ms. Skaggs dance when
she’s excited and trying different types of food on the trips.
Favorite UB Memory: Making
new friends and having memories that’ll last a lifetime!
Daisy Farias
Lucero Fernandez
College attending this fall:
Lone Star College-North
Harris
College attending this Fall:
Texas State University
Major: Social Work
Major: Business
Favorite UB Memory: When
we went to Chicago for our
2012 summer trip. It was my
17th birthday and everyone
sang Happy Birthday to me.
Favorite UB Memory: The
first time I participated in the
summer program– it was easy
to make friends!
Gerardo Garza
Yessenia Guzman
College attending this fall:
Texas State University
College attending this fall:
Texas State University
Major: Marketing
Major: Pre-pharmacy
Favorite UB Memory: Always
messing with my advisor,
Senora Paiz.
Favorite UB Memory: Going
to Corpus with my group and
then getting attacked by birds
on the beach after we got our
ice cream.
Jennifer Jimenez
Hunter Lange
College attending this fall:
Army National Guard/ Lone
Star College-North Harris
College attending this fall:
Lone Star College-North
Harris
Major: National Guard/
Undecided
Major: Engineering
Favorite UB Memory: When
we went to Corpus Christi.
Favorite UB Memory: The
Houston Food Bank and
Aquarium- I got to socialize
with students I had never met.
“Accept responsibility for your life. Know that it is you who will get you where
you want to go, no one else.”
-Les Brown
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Nyla Luter
Brigido Marroquin
College attending this fall:
Texas A & M-Kingsville
College attending this fall:
Lone Star College-North
Harris
Major: Mechanical
Engineering
Major: Music Production
Favorite UB Memory:
Making new friends and riding
on the plane for the first time.
Favorite UB Memory: My
favorite memory is meeting
new people. Everything
about UB is amazing.
Alejandra Martinez
Patricia Montalvan
College attending this fall:
University of Texas- Austin
College attending the fall:
Sam Houston State
University
Major: Journalism
Major: Communications
Favorite UB Memory: Going
to Chicago and spending my
summer with some of the
best people in the world.
Favorite UB Memory: All the
times I had with Ms. Hays on
my journey to graduate.
Angel Pacheco
Cristian Perez
College attending this fall:
Sam Houston State
University
College attending this fall:
Lone Star College-North
Harris
Major: Mathematics
Major: Pre-medicine
Favorite UB Memory: The
leadership trip I was on with
other UB students. We all
pulled funny pranks on each
other .
Favorite UB Memory: The
trip to Washington, D.C. and
experiencing something new.
Alina Phommavongsa
College attending this fall:
Lone Star College-North
Harris
Jordy Rios
Major: Biology
Major: Interdisciplinary
Studies
College attending this fall:
Lone Star College-North
Harris
Favorite UB Memory: Going
to San Antonio to visit UT and
Texas State. That was the
first time I met Ms. Paiz.
Favorite UB Memory: Going
to Chicago and watching the
Blue Man Group.
“Forget all the reasons it won’t work and believe the one reason that it will.”
-Unknown
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Juanita Rivas
Fernando Rodriguez
College attending this fall:
Texas State University
College attending this Fall:
Prairie View A&M University
Major: Nursing
Major: Architecture
Favorite UB Memory: The
entire Chicago trip.
Favorite UB Memory:
Saturday College preps.
Juliana Rodriguez
Alicia Rosales
College attending this fall:
Lone Star College-Kingwood
College attending this fall:
Texas A&M-Kingsville
Major: Pharmacy Technician
Major: Communications/
Social Work
Favorite UB Memory: Going
to Kemah and overcoming my
fear of boats by riding “the
Beast.”
Favorite UB Memory: Being
able to see Ms. Skaggs every
day and have one-on-ones.
Jessica Rosales
Amy Sanford
College attending this fall:
Lone Star College-North Harris
College attending this fall:
Sam Houston State University
Major: Photography
Major: Kinesiology & Health
Science
Favorite UB Memory: Mr.
Mendez, Chicago, and having
Ms. Skaggs as my advisor
Favorite UB Memory: Having
great talks about my future
with Ms. Skaggs
Justin Sauceda
Jennifer Soto-Uribe
College attending this fall:
Lone Star College-Kingwood
College attending this fall:
University of Texas-San
Antonio
Major: Game Development
Major: Social Work
Favorite UB Memory: When
we were at an overnight trip,
and Ms. Tigney came to our
hotel room to get us quiet
because we were too loud.
Favorite UB Memory: The
summer field trips are by far
my favorite memories as an
Upward Bound participant.
“Well done is better than well said.”
-Benjamin Franklin
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Jonathan Tenorio
Wilmer Tinoco
College attending this fall:
Stephen F. Austin State
University
College attending this Fall:
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
Major: Undecided
Major: Nursing
Favorite UB Memory: Every
single event and trip with the
UB family for the last four
years.
Favorite UB Memory: Going
to Chicago!
Mariajose Toledo
Leslie Turcios
College attending this fall:
University of Houston
College attending this fall:
Lone Star College-North Harris
Major: Public Relations
Major: Health
Favorite UB Memory: Going
to Washington D.C.
Favorite UB Memory: I love
going on the field trips to
colleges.
Stephanie Villanueva
Tiera Walker
College attending this fall:
Texas State University
College attending this fall:
Prairie View A&M University
Major: Criminal Justice
Major: Nursing
Favorite UB Memory: All the
talks and time spent with Ms.
Paiz in the UB office.
Favorite UB Memory: When
Yesenia, Yayo, Wilmer, Hunter
and I went to Texas A&M
Corpus Christi and got
swarmed and attacked by
seagulls.
Mayra Zuniga
College attending this fall:
Lone Star College-North
Harris
Major: Nursing
Favorite UB Memory: My
favorite memory was our trip
to Washington, D.C.– attending different museums,
especially the Holocaust
Museum.
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Congratulations to our 4-year
Upward Bound Participants!
Pedro Amaya
Jair Aparicio
Daisy Farias
Jonathan Tenorio
Wilmer Tinoco
“Life is short, live it. Love is rare, grab
it. Anger is bad, dump it. Fear is awful,
face it. Memories are sweet, cherish
them.”
-Unknown
Contact Us:
281-618-5746
[email protected]
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