[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 77 (Friday, June 4, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1050-E1051]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    RECOGNIZING UPWARD BOUND PROGRAM

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. RANDY ``DUKE'' CUNNINGHAM

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 3, 2004

  Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Upward 
Bound program. Upward Bound is a college preparation program aimed at 
helping high school students who are from low-income families and 
students who are from families where neither parent graduated from 
college. Upward Bound is designed to increase the rate at which these 
students enroll and graduate from college. This U.S. Department of 
Education program enables students, who wouldn't normally have the 
opportunity or information, to attend a post-secondary school due to 
their life circumstances. Testimonials from students involved with the 
California State University of San Marcos Upward Bound program express 
the impact this program has had on their lives through tutoring, 
friendships, and college trips. These testimonials highlight the lives 
that this program has touched and the opportunities this program has 
given to students.
  Upward Bound provides tutoring for its students in literature, 
composition, math, and science. Tutoring provides a way for Upward 
Bound to be involved in these students' lives and ensure their success. 
Fermin Soto, an Upward Bound participant, from San Marcos High School 
states, ``If Upward Bound was taken away from us our grades would go 
down, because we need the tutors. They help us so much and push us 
study and do homework.'' Another participant, Adrian Blount, feels, 
``Upward Bound is a program with tremendous opportunity. It supplies 
tutors for those who need extra help and they motivate you to do your 
best.''
  The tutoring Upward Bound provides has given many students the 
motivation to reach their potential in high school to enable them to 
continue their education. Megan Day from Escondido High School 
believes, ``Upward Bound is a group that motivates you to go to 
college. They have tutors to help you after school two times a week. 
Upward Bound helps let me have time after school to do homework or help 
study for tests and quizzes.'' This time set aside for students to 
concentrate on their schoolwork is very valuable to them and their 
future, as well. Mia Bryson from Camino High School feels the tutoring 
has been imperative for her success, ``The tutors at Upward Bound have 
helped me out a lot. Everyone is so motivated it helps when you're 
around people with the same goals as you.''
  Many of these students feel that without tutoring college would not 
be an option for them because they would not have the study skills or 
knowledge to excel in college. Recia Comfort from Rancho Buena Vista 
High School feels the tutoring has given her a brighter future, ``Since 
Upward Bound holds tutoring twice a week, it provides us with needed 
skills. So if the Upward Bound program was no longer available I 
wouldn't feel like college would be in my future.'' Megan Moore 
acknowledges the importance of the study skills she learned from 
tutoring, ``Upward Bound has helped me by being forced to go to 
tutoring because without that I would not have the study skills I do 
now.'' One tutor also believes, ``Through tutoring that is provided, 
students are able to strengthen their knowledge, hence alleviating the 
weight of new information offered in college.''
  Tutoring helps keep the students focused on their goals and teaches 
them self-discipline, when it comes to challenging schoolwork or 
difficult decisions in life. Raven Rogers is thankful for the 
discipline Upward Bound has taught her, ``Upward Bound has made me 
dedicate myself more to my schoolwork, I guess that's why I feel 
thankful for being accepted in the program. It has really shown me how 
to deal with stuff in life. So in my opinion I feel that in the long 
run it will really help me.'' Raquel from El Camino High School says, 
``My favorite part of the Upward Bound program is the tutoring. The 
tutors help me with all my work when it can be challenging.''
  The tutors provide support for the students on a personal level as 
well as educational level. Jose Aguilla from El Camino High School 
states, ``I'm so successful now because of the program and if it no 
longer existed then I would not know who to get help from. The staff 
and tutors are great and they show that they care for us and it makes 
me feel good.'' The support the tutors provide for the students 
increases their confidence in their schoolwork and their goals in life.
  Another beneficial aspect for students involved in Upward Bound is 
its Summer Residential Program, which gives students a chance to visit 
colleges. This experience provides the students with valuable 
information about college life and what they should expect in the 
future. If Upward Bound did not give their students the chance to visit 
colleges most of the students wouldn't have the chance to visit 
colleges or know the options available to them for college. Belen 
Aduino from Oceanside High School appreciates this sneak preview of 
college life, ``I like the classes they give us during summer, it's 
like we are there at the university and taking real classes. I like to 
experience how it is like to go to college at least during summer. 
During summer Component I learned many things such as how real college 
students live, the classes they study, and how their classrooms and 
colleges look.''
  Many students would not receive much information about college 
without the support of Upward Bound, which would decrease the chance 
these students would enroll in college. Elyana Sotelo from San Marcos 
High School feels the information she receives about college is very 
valuable, ``So if the program, Upward Bound, were to be taken away from 
us, students, we probably won't get a lot of information about college 
as we are getting right now. And we won't be able to get prepared and 
have the possibility about going to college.'' Michelle Sevilla from 
San Marcos High School also feels she wouldn't know much about college 
without Upward Bound, ``Without the Upward Bound program I wouldn't 
know much about colleges, financial aid, and tests. Upward does an 
excellent job keeping their students informed with what's going on with 
universities.''

  The students enjoy the opportunity to visit colleges because it gives 
them a chance to experience the way college life is, first-hand. For 
Shanea Blout of El Camino High School, her favorite part of Upward 
Bound is the summer program, ``I have met a lot of new people this year 
because of the summer residential component which has always been one 
of my favorite parts of Upward Bound. We have the chance to go to 
different colleges and experience what it is like living on our own and 
taking college classes.'' Another fan of the Summer Residential Program 
is Michaelangelo Medina, ``My favorite part about the program is when 
we spend time in the university during summer. The reason I like it so 
much is because you experience the college life in the dorms.'' Alex 
Pantoja from Oceanside High School also appreciates the opportunity to 
receive support and information about college, ``My favorite part of 
Upward Bound is I meet new people and visit colleges. Upward Bound has 
helped me out by picking out the best college.''
  Many students would not know about the application process, financial 
aid, or scholarship options without these informational college trips. 
Sandra Virias attributes her knowledge about college to Upward Bound, 
``It taught me to communicate with other people and to learn how to 
apply and information about colleges and universities. If Upward Bound 
was taken we wouldn't have anywhere to learn and be taught.'' River 
Resendiz from San Marcos High School also says, ``My favorite part of 
Upward Bound is that we get help from college students and also field 
trips that we take to go see colleges. I also like that they help you 
with college and scholarship applications.''
  Summer college trips let the students experience a part of the 
ultimate goal, attending college, they are aiming to achieve. Nayeli 
Borja from Escondido High School uses the college trips to keep her 
focused on her goals,

[[Page E1051]]

``When we go visit universities that encourages me even more to keep my 
education up and maintain my grades as high as possible.'' Ashli Tiller 
uses the college trips to absorb as much information as possible, ``The 
best part of the program is the summer component. It gives me a taste 
of what living on a college campus may be like. This program has helped 
me in many ways from financial aid to seeing what university is right 
for me.'' This ``taste'' of college as Ashli puts it, helps the 
students to remain focused and motivated towards their schoolwork 
because they get to experience the goal they are working towards.
  Upward Bound does not only provide these students with educational 
resources, but gives them a sense of community and belonging. Juan Muro 
says, ``Upward Bound has become a part of my life. Upward Bound is 
like, my family, if I was to loose that part of my life I would not 
know what to do. Upward Bound gives me confidence everyday, and I am 
afraid to loose that.'' The community of Upward Bound encourages the 
students and gives the students more confidence in their academic as 
well as personal lives. Yadira Estrada from Oceanside High School said, 
``Upward Bound taught me to value the things that I have and the 
opportunity of being in this program. I have developed my self-esteem 
and I know that I can make it as far as I would like to.''

  Upward Bound helps students stay focused, when they may be 
experiencing problems at home or at school. Aydee Reyes from Vista High 
School says, ``This program I would say helps me when I have school 
problems, sometimes even home or family problems.'' Danil McGill from 
San Marcos High School also feels this sense of comfort of Aydee, he 
states, ``Upward Bound has helped me, because when I get sidetracked, 
they're the one's that call and ask what's going on, and help me figure 
out what I need to do to get back on track. They also encourage me and 
make the best out of sometimes bad situations.'' Erin Hedgecock, a 
tutor for Upward Bound, also notes the sense of family Upward Bound 
provides for its students, ``Every week the students meet for tutoring 
and also meet every other Saturday. On these Saturdays all of the 
students from different community high schools come together to learn 
and study. These Saturday meetings also give the students a chance to 
get to know one another and to have fun. This is very important for the 
students to know that no matter what is going on in their lives at the 
moment; they still have a group of people that they belong to.''
  This community encourages the students to follow their dreams and set 
high goals because they know there is always someone there for them. 
Samantha Sandoval from Oceanside High School uses this support system 
to her full advantage, ``Upward Bound has helped me to follow my dreams 
and not let anything stop me from doing it. It also taught me not to be 
shy and always act like myself. If the program was taken away I would 
feel like my whole life is taken away because Upward Bound is like a 
big family that gets along really well.'' Jasmine Clark from Rancho 
Buena Vista High School also says, ``The Upward Bound program has 
helped me create steady goals that will help me reach my goal.'' The 
students rely on the people at Upward Bound to help them set and one 
day achieve their future goals.
  Upward Bound is not just a program, but it is an inspiration. It 
gives students the tools needed to set goals and fulfill their dreams. 
These honest and heartfelt testimonies from students involved with 
Upward Bound show the importance of this program in their lives. 
Without the support and information provided by Upward Bound for 
students many of these students would not be aware of their full 
potential and not view college as an option in their future. This 
program strengthens the futures of the individual students involved, as 
well, as the communities these students are from. I urge my colleagues 
to join me in supporting this program, and I thank these students for 
taking the time to share the importance of the program.

                          ____________________