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All D&E Upward Bound grads are headed to college

By Brad Johnson 2 min read
Photo by Sam Santilli Photography, LLC Front row from left, Marcus Smith (Pendleton County High School), Carlee White (Harman School), Caressa Waybright (Elkins High School), Katelyn Tompkins (Philip Barbour High School), Lexee Shearer (EHS), Marissa Sines (PBHS), Kacie Simon (PCHS), Chloe Roudebush (EHS); Second row, Kaylee Jennings (Tucker County High School), Ashlyn Judy (PCHS), Justus Kuykendall (PCHS), Brenden Lewis (HS), Sabina Leyzorek (Pocahontas County High School), McKennize Moore (Tygarts Valley High School), Emma Quint (EHS); Third row, Taiylor Hoke (Pocahontas), Nataley Hedrick (PCHS), Madison Harlan (TVHS), Destiny Eldridge (TCHS), Hannah Cussins (TCHS), Sarah Chambers (TCHS), Zada Carr (TCHS), Leah Bykofsky (EHS); Fourth row, Krysten Jones (EHS), Michael Gonzalez (EHS), Joseph Kittle (PBHS), Madison Short (EHS), Jillian Bolton (PBHS), Abby Arbogast (TVHS). Graduates not pictured: Abby Bennett (PCHS), Rachel Felton (TCHS), Jadyn Lane (Pocahontas), Emily Loftis (Pocahontas), Aaron Mabry (EHS), Cierra Sharp (Pocahontas).

ELKINS -- All the high school seniors who have graduated from the Davis & Elkins College Upward Bound Program this year are headed to college, officials said.

The graduation ceremony took place April 27 in Harper-McNeeley Auditorium on the D&E campus. The UB program is designed to prepare first-generation and income-eligible high schools students for post-secondary education.

"The first formal D&E Upward Bound graduation ceremony was held to recognize the Class of 1999 in the Robbins Memorial Chapel," Director Carol Suder-Howes said. "Today's ceremony marks the 25th year of formally recognizing Davis & Elkins College Upward Bound graduates and their accomplishments."

Dr. Robert Phillips, Davis & Elkins College Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs, welcomed participants and guests to the Upward Bound graduation and encouraged participants to strive for continued success.

"If anyone is uncertain about whether this program is for you, let me say that the summer program will get rid of all doubt," said Philip Barbour High School Senior Joseph Kittle, who plans to study Marketing at West Virginia Wesleyan College. "Don't be afraid to meet people from the other schools, you will make many friends."

Taiylor Hoke, a Pendleton County High School senior who plans to attend Berea College this fall to study accounting, said, "Though we may come from different schools and backgrounds, we are unified by a common purpose to create a smarter, safer, happier world as we become educated with the help of Upward Bound... The future begins with us, and the possibilities are never-ending."

D&E hosts two high school Upward Bound programs which are fully funded through Title IV TRIO grants from the U.S. Department of Education. The counties served by these two projects are Barbour, Randolph, Tucker, Pendleton, and Pocahontas.

The target schools of these programs and counties are Elkins High School, Harman School, Pendleton County High School, Phillip Barbour High School, Pocahontas County High School, Tygart Valley High School, and Tucker County High School.

Upward Bound is a holistic program that encourages students to perform well in high school and strengthen the competencies and skills needed to succeed in college.

Sophomore and junior participants and families attended a session before the graduation ceremony to explore and prepare for the opportunities provided during the program's upcoming summer session.

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