February, 2017
Looking Upward Vol. 2
Director’s Notes
February is here and we hope that each of you are getting excited about some of the great
things we have planned for the upcoming months. By now, you should have given us your
email address and cell phone numbers so that we can communicate via Remind. We want to
make sure that everyone is “in the know” about the Upward Bound happenings! You should
have also filled out an student information form, telling us which subjects you feel like you
might need tutoring in, what kinds of extracurricular events you’re involved in and what types
of cultural events you would be interested in attending. If you haven’t filled out one of these
forms, please let either Emery or myself know in your next UB meeting.
“Tell me and I
forget.
Teach me and I
remember.
Involve me and I
learn.”
We have realized that, for many of you, our college visit to Appalachian State University
conflicts with Prom. We are still planning to go, however, we are also planning another
college visit day in either late March or early April More details will be given as we finalize
plans.
- Benjamin Franklin
If you are interested in caving, we have an exciting day trip that we are planning with Mr.
Steve Ahn from Holston High School. And, we hope to be taking a trip to a museum soon as
well!
Lastly, I want to encourage you to mark your calendars for June 5th, when we will kick off our
Summer Camp. We’ll be at VHCC for the first 3 weeks of camp, then will be spending three
days on the campus of Emory & Henry June 26th—28th! We’ll cap off our summer fun with a
trip to New York City July 10th—13th.
In This Issue

Student of the Month

FAFSA Time!

Career Insights

College Focus

Important Dates
We are excited about these upcoming events, and we hope you are too!
Leigh Ann
Get on the bus that moves Upward!
FAFSA
It’s tax time! And while that may
not mean much to you as
students, it definitely means
something to your parents!
Did you know that the amount of
federal financial aid that you will
receive to attend college is
determined by both your and
your parents income?
What better time than the present
to begin thinking about financial
aid and college costs. To see an
estimate of your “Estimated Family
Contribution” to your college tuition
(basically, what the government
thinks you should be able to pay),
enter your and your parent’s most
current income information into the
FAFSA4caster at
www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov
Photo Caption
Student of the Month
Marissa Phipps, Holston High School
*Remember, the lower the EFC
the more financial aid you will be
eligible for!
We are excited to highlight a different Upward Bound student each month. Students will be nominated by their guidance counselors and will be highlighted in the
monthly newsletter and on our social media pages.
Marissa Phipps has been chosen as the Student of the Month for February.
Marissa is a senior at Holston High School this year where she has excelled in her
horticulture classes and in FFA. Lawrence Cox, Marissa’s horticulture teacher has
given Marissa the opportunity to serve as Plant Sale General Manager for 2017.
He states that “everyday, Marissa scouts the greenhouses for insect problems,
physiological problems, or environmental problems that might affect plant growth.
She is always very thorough and I always depend on her to manage the
greenhouses in my absence. “ Cox also describes the active Marissa has taken
on in FFA this year, saying that she has worked diligently and prepares well for
competitions.
Another Holston faculty member, Sheila Counts, has Marissa in English 12.
Counts describes Marissa as a polite, well-mannered young lady with an
outstanding work ethic and kind disposition.
It’s never too early to begin planning
to pay for college!
Marissa currently plans to attend VHCC in the fall, earning her Associate Degree,
before transferring to Virginia Tech.
Why Upward Bound?
“Upward Bound Math Science is the best thing that ever happened to me. The program taught me not only how to do
well in college, but how to succeed. I learned so many valuable life lessons that will help me do well in my chosen profession. Without UBMS, I don’t know if I would be where I am today.” –Victoria Pendleton, former UBMS student
Victoria is currently at UMaine studying Pre-Veterinary Science (class of 2016).
Important
Dates
March SAT: March 11th
(register by February
10th).
TBA: Radford
University Visit
April 21st: Upward
Bound Applications Due
April 22nd: Appalachian
State University Visit
(commitment forms due
by Feb. 24th)
May SAT: May 6th
(register by April 7th).
We will be setting a date
for the Radford University
visit soon, and adding
some fun events to our
calendar soon! Be sure
to watch Facebook,
Twitter and your text
messages for details.
To register for the SAT
and find a local test site,
visit
www.collegeboard.org.
Practice taking the SAT
here: https://
collegereadi-
Move upward into a career in Criminal Justice
Career Insights—Criminal
Justice
There’s a list of careers, 53 to be exact, offered by
criminaljusticedegreeschools.com, that one can pursue with a degree in Criminal
Justice. From Air Marshall to Youth Correctional Counselor, from Forensic
Psychologist to State Trooper, there’s a career option for anyone who thinks law
enforcement is the right career path for them. Some of these careers
combine two interests, such as a forensic accountant or forensic nurse, while
others may be the perfect career for someone with a compassionate heart (such
as Victim’s Advocate).
You may be wondering about the educational requirements for many of these
jobs, and if so, you’ll be glad to know that the requirements range from an
Associate Degree’s to a Master’s Degree. With an Associate’s degree, you can
become a Law Enforcement Officer in a town, county or state; you can become a
Detective, Forensic Nurse, or Paralegal. With a Bachelor’s Degree, you can
pursue a career as a Probation Officer, a DEA Agent, or a Crime Scene
Investigator.
The options for someone with a degree with Criminal Justice, whether it be from a
2-year Community College or a 4-year University are diverse and unlimited. Start
now, and enroll in a Criminal Justice program at your local Career and Technical
Center. You will gain valuable experience and insight into the field and will be
ready to begin your college education in Criminal Justice after high school
graduation!
For more information, visit www.criminaljusticedegreeschools.com.
College Focus: Radford
University
Did you know that Radford University has 105 undergraduate and graduate programs of study? Did you know that Radford university has 9,401 students? Radford University has a freshman class that is made of 41% first-generation college
students—students who are just like you! Freshman classes have an average
size of only 30 students, and the student: faculty ratio is 16:1.
Contact Us
Leigh Ann Adams, Director
Emery Reid, Academic Coordinator
Upward Bound
PO Box 828
Abingdon, VA 24212
You’re probably wondering about tuition. For Virginia residents, the tuition and
fees for a full-time student totaled $10,081 for 2016-17 (this does not include room
and board). And, financial aid is awarded to approximately 75% of students who
apply for it, making receiving an education at RU even more affordable.
(276) 739-2506; (276) 739-2507
What’s even better is that VHCC and the Virginia Community College System
work with Radford University to guarantee admission to Radford University for
VHCC graduates as long as they meet specific academic requirements.
Visit us on the web at http://
www.vhcc.edu/index.aspx?
page=662
Want to learn more? Visit www.radford.edu and
http://www.vhcc.edu/index.aspx?page=1014.
Moving Upward
[email protected]
[email protected]
Stay connected! Text @9ccf27
to 81010 for all Upward Bound
updates!
Find us on Facebook, Instagram
& Twitter.
Virginia Highlands Community College promotes and maintains educational
opportunities without regard to race, color, sex, ethnicity, religion, gender,
age (except where age is a bona fide occupational qualification), disability,
national origin, or other non-merit factors. This institution prohibits sexual harassment including sexual violence.
Si necesita ayuda en español, marque el número 276-739-2401.