Celebrating Our 2015 Seniors

By: C. Lyles

L to R: Seniors Deja Jackson, Kaliyah Durham, Derek Dean, Deidre Joyner,
and Deja Gardener on a HEC UB field trip. (Photo: M. Bullard)

Standardized test after test. Balancing schoolwork with extra-curricular activities. Keeping up with course assignments. Part time jobs. Family life. It is easy to see that high school is no easy feat by far, and for high school seniors, the above demands are coupled with college applications, FAFSA and financial aid deadlines, and selecting a school.  

Demands and responsibilities increase for seniors and undeniably prep them for navigating college and careers after high school. So, here’s where we take a moment to celebrate some of HEC Upward Bound’s incredible high school seniors.

Renowned writer/author Pearl Cleage says, “Some things must be spoken out loud to get to where the magic is.” So, we take a note from her brilliance to “…speak your names.”

Te'Airra Blackmon -Soldan HS
Chuwn Curtis -Hazelwood Central
Derek Dean –Career Academy

Lizeth Delgado –Gateway HS

Aaliyah Durham –Vashon HS

Kaliyah Durham –Vashon HS

Kassia Felton –Gateway HS

India Fowler –Career Academy

Brianna Floyd-College Prep
Deja Gardner –McCluer HS

Alexandra Granberry –Sumner HS

Annika Jackson –Northwest Academy

Deja Jackson –Soldan HS

Shania Jackson –Vashon HS

Deidre Joyner –Career Academy

Celena Nguyen –Gateway HS

Taliba Strickland –Gateway HS

Alexandria Tullock –Gateway HS

Korey Watson –College Prep Academy

Class of 2015, we are proud of you. Thanks for letting us serve you. Congrats!

Want to Meet a Famous Hollywood Actor?

Calling all HEC Upward Bound students! 

Teens, are you looking for something exciting (and empowering) to do this month? Something free; something with a famous Hollywood actor; something with hit music station HOT 104.1? 

Check out the flyer below, visit stlyouthsummit.com to register, and bring a friend!

This Week in Saturday Academy 2/14/15

By: C. Lyles 

This week, HEC Upward Bound ventured into the neighborhood for our Saturday College Preparatory Academy. Students met at the Taylor Community Center, an extension of the St. Louis Science Center, and encountered fun, fire, and freestyles.

Icebreaker in action!

"It's getting hot in here!"

Fun and Fire. Science Center staff started our field trip off with fun icebreakers to engage the students. They ultimately showed our students just how fun science could be with some eye-opening, hot experiments.

Fun and Freestyles. Students and staff were in for a pleasant surprise as C-Sharp, the TMA 2014 Artist of the Year, shared words of encouragement. C-Sharp made students laugh as they listened to his message that reminded them to dream, realize their dreams, save and invest their money well, and express themselves.

During the Q &A portion of the talk, youth were eager to hear C-Sharp rap. “Do a freestyle!” the students urged. So, the rapper obliged my sharing some of his music. Click below to hear some of his words and his rhymes.   

Did you miss this Saturday Academy? Fret not! The fun will keep going next time with some spoken word poetry from an unexpected source.

Next Saturday Academy: Feb. 28, 2015

Sharing Upward Bound Early

By: C. Lyles 

In order to make a positive impact on the educational lives of youth, academic intervention and enrichment must start early. So, HEC Upward Bound is making moves in our community.

On Feb. 20, 2015, Mr. Bullard and Ms. Lyles presented Upward Bound to middle school students at Compton-Drew Investigative Learning Center.  Images and video footage of current UB students in action prompted many students to learn more about the program. Over 60 youth showed interest in the program and its benefits, such as tutoring, ACT test prep, college tours, and youth networking.

Something tells us that HEC Upward Bound will be welcoming some incredible students into the program who graduate from Compton-Drew ILC this year.

Congrats to the graduating eighth-graders, and thanks for letting us share Upward Bound with you, Compton-Drew ILC.  

Mr. Bullard capturing a picture of Ms. Lyles greeting students and answering questions. 

Who’s That Lady: Cindy Lyles

By: C. Lyles 

Rounding out the HEC Upward Bound family is new Educational Counselor Cindy Lyles. She has worked in education over seven years both in and outside of the classroom. Lyles admits that she gravitates toward working with youth because of their energy, honesty, and hope for the future. But like the classic Isley Brothers hit, some may be wondering, “Who’s that lady?”

Lyles graduated from Saint Louis University with a B.A. in Communication. Her passion for writing and language led her to earn a Master of Arts in English from SIUE, where she deepened her love and understanding of literature and creative writing. In her spare time, she enjoys singing, writing, reading, taking photographs, and spending time with family.

Lyles is looking forward to making great memories with Upward Bound staff and students. “I know how life-changing this program is,” said Lyles. “I cannot wait to watch students grow into better versions of themselves.”

This Week in Saturday Academy 1/24/15

By: C. Lyles

Even though the cold weather dares to keep many indoors during the winter months, Upward Bound students remain committed to our program and their futures. They came ready to learn and sharpen their skills in mathematics, science, English literature, and college and career readiness.

Students and parents during icebreaker.

This week in Saturday Academy specifically, we hosted our monthly parent meeting, and parents had the privilege of getting in on the Upward Bound action. They worked alongside students in a “Hum-along” icebreaker that challenged participants to find others in the room with their tune by humming the rhythm. Although amusing, the ultimate goal was to get students in the habit of persevering to the end of a task; something they will be challenged to do often in college and their careers.

Boeing engineer Courtney Barber—our guest speaker for the afternoon—continued exposing our students to college and career success strategies in an insightful, inspiring talk. Speaking from the all-powerful point of view of “if I knew then what I know now,” Barber candidly shared some of her difficulties she learned from during college, answered audience questions, and offered quick tips for students to empower themselves in high school and beyond.

Mr. Armstrong with guest speaker Courtney Barber.

Next Saturday Academy: 

Feb. 14, 2015; 

Taylor Community Center at 4900 Manchester Ave.   

Marvin Bullard:

 A New Kind of Jack of All Trades

By: C. Lyles

When Upward Bound students need help with social studies, government, or history homework, they see Mr. Bullard. When the FAFSA stumps the college bound, they call Mr. Bullard. When students need an extra recommendation, Mr. Bullard’s their man. When school counselors need an extra set of hands to assist with community outreach, Mr. Bullard is right there. Among other things, he even finds time to be the official HEC photographer and ID badge maker. “I’m a jack of all trades and master of none,” says Marvin Bullard, but his wealth of experiences and expertise make him valuable to the Higher Education Consortium.

Bullard graduated with a B.S. in Social Sciences from University of Missouri St. Louis and earned his teacher certification from Harris Stowe State University. He taught for over three years throughout the city of St. Louis and began working with Upward Bound in 2011 as a Saturday Academy instructor and recruiter. In 2014, he became HEC Upward Bound’s College and Career Specialist, which perfectly fits the man who shared, “My favorite thing about this job is seeing students academically mature.”

Bullard loves serving our students, but when he has a little down time off the clock, he can be found gaming, volunteer-teaching, taking on renovation projects, rooting for his son at sporting events, and spending time with family.

We appreciate all Marvin Bullard does for students and staff at Upward Bound. If he is the standard for being a jack of all trades, then the bar is set quite high because Bullard serves, leads, teaches, and advises with excellence and engagement that cannot be matched.