Upward Bound is a federally funded TRIO program that has been in existence since 1964. This particular program opened in 1999 and is able to serve approximately 50 high school students from Chase County High School, Council Grove High School, Emporia High School, and Northern Heights High School. According to the terms of the grant, two-thirds of our students must come from low-income families in which neither parent graduated with an undergraduate degree. One third of our students may join the program regardless of the family's income level if neither one of their parents graduated with an undergraduate degree. The goal of Upward Bound is to identify students with academic potential and to assist them in preparing for the completion of a four-year college degree by preparing them during their high school years. Students who join Upward Bound do so because they are committed to the dream of completing a college degree. They are motivated to work hard on this goal by using weekly tutorial services, studying hard at home, attending cultural enrichment activities, going on college campus tours, attending academic and skill building activities during monthly enrichment programs, utilizing individualized academic and career counseling to apply for college and financial aid, and searching for scholarships. All Upward Bound students receive a monthly stipend of up to $40.00 during the school year. The amount each student receives depends primarily on whether the student turned in grades on time, the student's current grade point average, and how many extra hours of tutoring the student completed that month. Upward Bound's Summer Program allows students to experience college life as it really is. Students live in the residence halls on the Emporia State University campus for six weeks. During the week, they attend classes with other Upward Bound students, perform community service activities in the afternoons, and attend tutoring and fun activities at night.  All participants who successfully complete the academic portion of the Summer Institute are permitted to attend a trip to another state. The trip is academic, cultural and social in nature. Students are expected to do some assignments during the trip. This trip represents a reward for the hard work put forth by the participants during Summer Institute.

Upward Bound students have the opportunity to form lasting friendships with other students who share their goals of higher education in an environment that provides them with the cultural and academic preparation needed to succeed in a college setting. We are proud to be able to offer students in Lyon, Chase and Morris counties with the services of an established program that serves over 50,000 high school students nationwide.