At Southwestern Community College, passion for student success knows no bounds.
The college’s Upward Bound program serves as a preparatory program for area high-potential, high school students who may not have previously considered college as an option after high school.
Funded by the U.S. Department of Education, the program recently received $1.48 million in funding for another five years. The program has been active at SCC since 1999 and is overseen by Director Annette Kesgen with assistance from Academic Advisors Erica Muse and Cheryl Renfro.
The grant re-application process involves creating a proposal by collecting data about the region, and this process occurs every five years.
“Upward Bound isn’t just a program, it’s a community,” Muse said. “As an alumnus, I can honestly say it shifted my trajectories and provided a pathway to college access. I feel incredibly fortunate to have returned home to work with these students – thankfully, my experience has come full circle. Each student that crosses the stage at graduation has already impacted the world.”
Like Muse, Renfro is also a former Upward Bound student.
“Upward Bound changed my life and gave me opportunities I would not have had without my own advisors’ support,” said Renfro. “I am honored to be part of such a strong program at SCC and have the chance to give back and encourage our future leaders.”
The program was founded in 1965 and provides services for students whose parents did not earn a four-year college degree, or whose family meets income requirements.
Among the services provided by the program are tutoring, advising, college visits, an annual summer institute hosted at SCC’s Jackson Campus and other activities designed to inspire participants to pursue higher education upon graduating from high school.
“It is a privilege to be able to continue the Upward Bound program and offer opportunities that can positively impact the lives of individual students, families and communities in WNC,” said Kesgen, who has served as the program’s director for 20 years.
For more information about Upward Bound, contact Kesgan at akesgen@SouthwesternCC.edu or 828.339.4281.
