Soldan Tigers roaring through the Summer of 2017 as HEC Upward Bound Students

Soldan International Studies High School

Nylah Burns-Participant of HEC Upward Bound since August 2015

Duh Thuang- Participant of HEC Upward Bound-Joined Summer 2017

Soldan I.S. High School is one of HEC Upward Bound's Target schools. Every year HEC Upward Bound tries to recruit at least 5 students from Soldan.



Our Soldan students know how to step up, help us recruit and they are always willing to attend every and any event that we host.



This summer we accepted two new students from Soldan, Duh and Kamille. It is such a pleasure to have a connection with Soldan because we continue to get awesome students with bright futures.

Kamille Briley-Childs-Participant of HEC Upward Bound- Joined Summer 2017

Our goal is to continue to grow in our partnership with Soldan. We are so very proud of our current students and past students. 



Thank you Soldan for the awesome partnership and the wonderful students!

Cardejah Warner-Participant of HEC Upward Bound since August 2015

Miracle Baker- Participant of HEC Upward Bound since August 2015

Diamond Sullivan- Participant of HEC Upward since June 2016

Duh and Mr. Bullard experimenting with cameras

HEC Upward Bound spends a week on Harris Stowe's Campus

Cardejah and Ms. Nolan at the Christmas giveaway. Cardejah won multiple gifts during that event

Cardejah hanging out with Cameron, Daly and Anyko at the Blues Museum

Nylah presenting her Vision board!

Nylah with the President of EOA taking selfies!

Mr. Armstrong, director of HEC Upward Bound & Cardejah

Ms. Hayes supporting HEC Upward Bound and students!

Major Sims, Nylah and Ms. Nolan during the ROTC Award Ceremony

HEC Upward Bound took three young ladies to Girls in STEM conference.

Major Sims has been a huge supporter of HEC Upward Bound

Professionalism- HEC Upward Bound Style

Nylah Burns, Miracle Baker & Zykiah Williams were the three participants who were accepted to attend Girls in STEM

Duh is very intelligent, goofy and enjoys Education. Nothing, but positivity comes from Duh

Ms. Hayes, Soldan's Missouri Corps Advisor came to support HEC Upward Bound as we closed the academic year.

Duh was part of the Photography club this summer and it did an amazing job with taking pics and posing for pics

Diamond traveled with us to Chicago in 2016

Ms. Nolan attending Soldan's Homecoming in 2006

 Ms. Nolan graduated from Soldan International Studies in May 2010. She attended all four years at Soldan. Her goal was to go off to college and come back and serve the community she came from. To her surprise when she joined the HEC Upward Staff in May 2016 Soldan was one of the schools that she had to focus on. While Ms. Nolan was nervous at first; she was ecstatic that she received the opportunity to give back to her Alma Mater.

The "Power" Summer Academy 2017

The summer took off with the "Powers" of the HEC Upward Bound students. HEC Upward Bound has been talking about "Powers" for a year now. The staff has come together to make sure that in every class our students were discovering their "powers" in each and every subject.

Ms. Christina, Social Worker, used the movie Kung Fu Panda to relate to our students. Po is the main character and the not-so typical super hero. He is our super hero example. Po has to discover who he is in order to be the "Dragon Warrior" for his village. Po digs deep inside of him and realizes where his emotions come from in order to figure out his magical powers. As we watched all the movies we realized that Po goes through a lot of what, our staff, students and communities go through. For example in the second movie we saw that Po discovered that he was adopted and never had a mother. He had to discover what was bringing him down and how can he turn that into his super powers.


This a lesson that we often times try to teach our students. We discuss with the students to think about what they have been through and how that affects their future, but also their present.

What have you been through that can help shape you into the person you need be? 

What is holding you down that will not allow you to be open?

Students dancing at the Hard Rock Cafe Atlanta

The staff giving the students back to their parents!

HEC Upward Bound students coming to a college near you!

HEC Upward Bound staff!

HEC Upward Bound meets  Georgia State

HEC Upward Bound Staff

HEC Upward Bound's Peer Leaders

HEC Upward Bound Students reading their poems

HEC Upward Bound Staff & Teachers

HEC Upward Bound visited CNN

The Nolan Squad

After the staff rounded the students up for a "Ice Breaker" other staff prepared to throw water balloons at the students (See Video)

The Staff versus Students water balloon fight

Our students worked with  Riverview's Boys & Girls Club  10-12 year old students in Life Skills activities

Ms. Nolan's Bestie, Ms. Mercedes is the Program manager for Riverview's Boys & Girls Club. Ms. Mercedes allows HEC Upward Bound to come in and lead her students in life skills activities.

Team building with HEC Upward Bound and Boys & Girls Club of  Riverview

There were three different stations that students experienced.

HEC Upward Bound's Peer Leaders who lead the three stations for the Boys & Girls Club

Demetrius Parker at the Blues Museum

Mr. Armstrong jamming out old school style

KyShun Clark-Templeton

Miracle Baker

Ms. Nolan, Nylah Burns, & Amaia Johnson

Ms. Williams and Aigner Williams

Nylah Burns

Anyko Washington

Ms. Nolan & Aigner

Amaia Johnson

HEC Upward Bound's students & staff attending the Men of Excellence Conference

Dug Thuang

Mr. Brown, Mr. Bullard, Mr. Sedrak, Duh Thuang & Ean Johnson

Young men who know how to dress for success.

The Men of Excellence Conference

Mr. Bullard (College & Career Specialist), Ean Johnson (Freshman from Vashon High School), Keith Williams (Junior from Gateway STEM High School), Anthony Rogers (Freshman from Vashon High School), Samuel Lewis (Sophomore from Metro Academy High School), Demetrius Parker (Freshman from Vashon High School), and Mr. Armstrong (Director)

The MOE (Men of Excellence) is a conference that is inspired by President's Obama's My brother's Keepers Initiative. MOE targets young men in high school and college.  The goal is for the young men to work along side TRIO and higher education professionals on life skills development and college planning.

Everyone needs a little guidance and this conference is a perfect opportunity for young men to see people like them and people who are not like them. This is a great opportunity for people from all over to come together and work towards a better future, not just for themselves but the upcoming generations as well.

The theme of the MOE Conference is

                                                   

 BE R.E.A.L. (Responsible, Educated, Authentic and Leader)

R- The individual is responsible in the way that they carry themselves and the accountability that they have for their actions. They can be trusted to make good decisions, having everyone in involved, in mind, and engaged.

E- Not only in the sense that they are clever factually, but can utilize their skills, and stay in-tuned with their surrounding

A- this individual has to have the chutzpah to not betray who or what they find important, but be genuine and upfront. These are qualities that may be challenging to embrace considering the many negative outside pressures that exists. Now, there are many individuals out there can lead, whether it be parents, teachers, or a politician.

L- you accept that you are in a position where can influence others, and use your position to affect change on behalf of those individuals.