There was a time Audree Olson thought graduating from college and becoming a neonatal intensive care unit nurse was just a dream.
After two years in Upward Bound at Arkansas Tech University, that dream feels very much within her reach.
“I know that if I work hard enough and use all my resources, I can have the scholarship money I need to follow my dreams completely through,” said Olson. “Upward Bound is one of those programs you have to put forth effort into, but it’s very rewarding. It’s a perfect mix of fun and work, and I feel like that’s why it works so well.”
Olson, a rising senior at Lamar High School, was one of approximately 100 Arkansas River Valley high school students who spent the month of June living and learning on the ATU campus in Russellville as part of the 2023 Upward Bound Summer Academy.
They studied English, math, science and a wide variety of electives such as virtual reality, human geography, physical education, robotics and theatre. There are also recreational, cultural and social aspects of the program, which is a federally-funded initiative designed to prepare participants for college enrollment and success.
Jill Hendricks has served as director for ATU’s Upward Bound programs for 18 years. She is joined on the ATU Upward Bound staff by target school liaisons Shawna Davis, Annie McNeely and Lauren Pipkin.
“A lot of my friends were into it, and I’d heard about the opportunities they provide,” said Olson when asked what drew her to the Upward Bound program during her sophomore year in high school. “We have Saturday events, we tour different colleges and we do community service. We are held accountable. I love Mrs. Shawna. She is truly one of my favorite people. I always know I can contact her if I need something. I put her down as a reference for my job and scholarship applications. She’s always there when I need her.”
Olson feels the same way about her Upward Bound classmates.
“I didn’t really mingle outside my circle when I first joined Upward Bound, but we’re all friends here,” said Olson. “We’re always there for one another, especially at the summer academy. We spend so much time together over the five weeks. We really become like a family. I feel like I’m building lifelong friendships.”
One of those friends is Evan Thornton, a rising junior at Dover High School.
“I was getting behind in school,” said Thornton when asked how Upward Bound changed his academic trajectory. “I thought this would be motivation to go to college, and it really has. I’ve learned that life in college is something to look forward to and not as scary as people think it is.”
Thornton became involved in Upward Bound in ninth grade. He said the staff has helped him identify financial aid pathways that will allow him to pursue a college degree in environmental science.
“I’ve made a lot of friends,” said Thornton. “I feel like we are all pretty mature. To be in something like this that is helping you get to that next step after high school, there is a level of maturity that goes with that. We’re all connected with the same purpose of bettering ourselves academically.”
Emma Hartsfield, who will be a junior at Wonderview High School in 2023-24, found her purpose through the study of theatre. She wants to become a high school English teacher.
“I’ve made more friends and become more outgoing,” said Hartsfield, who joined Upward Bound during the 2022-23 school year. “Mrs. Lauren has helped me a lot. I didn’t know how to study. She gives step-by-step instruction and teaches us how to be prepared. In ninth grade, I didn’t feel like I did my best job in class. This past year, I applied myself more.”
ATU Upward Bound participant Callie Meyer plays basketball and softball at Two Rivers High School. She’s also active in student council. Upward Bound has provided her with an additional opportunity to expand her network.
“It has put me out there socially,” said Meyer, who will be a junior at Two Rivers in 2023-24. “I talk to people, but I don’t typically bond with them. To come into this program and know that no one is judging me, it makes it a safe space.”
Meyer wants to pursue a career that will allow her to travel, and she views higher education as a key component in attaining that goal.
“I see so many options from where I am standing,” said Meyer. “Upward Bound makes us more independent, but it also helps us see the good in other people. It’s definitely motivated me and made me more aware of my future. It’s kept me on my toes. Academically, I’ve always been able to maintain good grades, but now I am more motivated to do that.”
Students selected for Upward Bound must meet income guidelines as set by the federal government and/or be a potential first-generation college student.
The Upward Bound classic program at ATU serves students from the public high schools in Atkins, Dover, Hector, Johnson County Westside and Lamar. ATU’s Upward Bound math and science program is for public high school students from Danville, Dardanelle, Two Rivers, Western Yell County and Wonderview.
Learn more about ATU’s Upward Bound programs at www.atu.edu/trio.
