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Upward Bound, Gear Up recognizes outstanding high school students

By B.L. Azure

The senior Upward Bound honor students were acknowledged at the Upward Bound and Gear Up reception last week. (B.L. Azure photo)

PABLO -— Last week the Salish Kootenai College Upward Bound and Gear Up programs recognized student participants at an honors reception in the Joe McDonald Health and Athletic Center. There was also special recognition of the 29 senior honor students who will be moving on to life after high school and that includes college for many.

All schools on the Flathead Reservation have student participants in the Upward Bound program. In all there are 80 high school students from the seven high schools on the reservation. The graduation of the 29 seniors creates 29 openings in next school year’s program.

“We now have 29 openings for the upcoming school year,” said Heather Licht, director of the SKC Upward Bound and Gear Up programs. “Graduating eighth grade students can start in the program this summer.”

The SKC-based summer session runs for six weeks and students can earn high school credits and will be paid a stipend.

Joanne Morrow (right) presents Two Eagle River School student Tara Moore with a certificate acknowledging her as an honor student in the Upward Bound program. (B.L. Azure photo)

Upward Bound has been around since the mid-1960s and it, among other things, helps prepare students for college. Participants have to be either low income certified or be the first in their families to attend college.

The Gear Up program, which has been around for a decade or so, has a similar mission and has student participants from Ronan and Two Eagle River schools.

“The Department of Education funds the programs that are for students who have less opportunity to attend college,” Licht said. “These programs are here because we want them here.”

The programs recently participated in the “TRiO Day” national art and essay contest with the theme of “Giving back.” The event is sponsored by the Department of Education. Every year there is a nationwide celebration of education and community service with a central theme. The education end is focused on during the academic year and the community service projects are done in the summer.

“This was the toughest art and essay contest we have ever had to judge,” Licht said.

The winners of the art contest: 1st place - Trey Payne; 2nd place (Tie) - Jolene Bergeron and LaShae Zanca; 3rd place - Rachel Ambo; and Honorable Mention: Natasha Lafferty, Adrielle Massey and Cody Scott.

The winners of the writing contest: 1st place - Andrew Crenshaw; 2nd place - Bella Dally; 3rd place - Robert Jackson II; and Honorable Mention: Kyla McReynolds, Nick Morigeau and Rayanna Ranel.

The placers of the art and writing contests received Barnes & Noble gift certificates ranging in value from $10-50. Honorable mention entries received a Polson Cove Deli $10 gift certificate.