Program News

Francesca D'Agrosa Named New Academic Counselor for Upward Bound Math/Science
The Upward Bound Academy for Math and Science would like to welcome Francesca D'Agrosa as the program's new Academic Counselor. Francesca moves over from the REAL Upward Bound program to replace Nikki Holland who will be attending graduate school full time this fall at the University of Arkansas. Francesca is an outstanding addition to the Academy's central staff and is looking forward to seeing everyone at the first Saturday Session on September 26th.

ACADEMY SENIORS BANK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Academy seniors have blown us all over with their successful quests to pay for college and accumulation of more than $740,000 in scholarships and grants!! Kudos to all of our seniors. We are SO proud of you!

Ngoc Huynh Named 1 of 300 Nationally to Receive $20,000 as a 2009 Dell Scholar!!
Congratulations to Ngoc Huynh, participant in the Upward Bound Math Science Academy at the University of Arkansas, who has been awarded 1 of 2 Dell Scholarships in the state of Arkansas. We are so so PROUD!! As a Dell Scholar, Ngoc will receive $20,000 for the next six years. More than just a check, the Dell Scholars Program also provides its students with technology, resources and mentoring to ensure they have the support they need to obtain a college degree. To learn more about the Dell Program and how to become a Dell Scholar visit www.dellscholars.org.

Engineering Challenge Winners!
Congratulations to all of our winners and to Carl Albert State College for bringing home the team trophy! 2009 Engineering Challenge Winners Egg Drop 3rd – Lindsie Pense 2nd – Logan Martin 1st – Victoria Stanley (Carl Albert) Structural Challenge (basswood bridges) 3rd – David Bellgard (Carl Albert) 2nd – Erica Thavonekham 1st – Joseph Teague Mousetrap Cars 3rd – Sarah Paulsen 2nd – Isaiah Spann 1st – Courtney Lockridge Styrofoam Boats 3rd – Ngoc Huynh 2nd – Luis Atilano 1st – Tim Williams Spontaneous Challenge 3rd – Logan Martin, Diondre Jones, Brandon Burris 2nd – George Garcia, Phillip Smith, Luis Atilano 1st – MaShayla Hall, Bryce Bandy, Sarah Staats

Engineering Challenge!!
Students: Don't forget about the Engineering Challenge coming up on March 28th. As always, please contact us as soon as possible if you will be unable to attend. In the event of an absence, we ask that you complete your projects and have someone from your school bring your project to campus. If you have any questions, make sure to call the office at 575.3553.

January 31st Session Cancelled
We are disappointed that we were not able to meet this Saturday, January 31st, due to the ice storm. Seniors - we will be meeting with you individually this month to work on the FAFSA and college applications. Everyone else - we'll be calling to check in and will plan on seeing you at the next session on February 28th.

Dell Scholarship Deadline Approaching
Seniors - please don't forget to check out the Dell Scholarship at www.dellscholars.org. This scholarship is for students who participate in an "approved college readiness program". Lucky for you - Upward Bound is one of these! The deadline to complete your application is January 15th. Don't let this great opportunity pass you by!

ATTENTION ALL UB, REAL, and ACADEMY SENIORS!!!!!!!!
All Seniors, The 2009 History Makers Essay Contest is open to all seniors who plan on attending college in the fall of 2009. You could possibly win a $750 scholarship. Please go to the following website to find out more about this great essay scholarship. http://www.drqwadespeaks.com/essay_contest.html

Register by October 3, 2008!!!
Voter Registration Information

As a resident of Arkansas and the United States, you have a civic responsibility to participate in the democratic process. The combination of all our voices is what makes this country so unique. Whether you are just coming of age or have recently moved to Arkansas, take the time to register to vote.

The United States presidential election of 2008 is scheduled for Tuesday November 4, 2008.

Who Can Vote

There are some basic requirements you must meet in order to vote in Arkansas. In addition to voting in only one state, you need to meet the minimum criteria:

* Arkansas Resident
* U.S. Citizen
* Mentally Competent
* 18 Years Old

When to Register

Register to vote at least 30 days before the next election or you may not qualify. Once you have registered, you won't need to do it again, unless you move to a new state.
You can register by mail or in person.

How to Register

The voter registration form can be downloaded and completed online.
There is a spanish voter registration form available online.
Take the form to any county clerk at least 30 days prior to the next election, or drop it in the mail:

Secretary of State, Charlie Daniels
Attn: Voter Registration
P.O. Box 8111
Little Rock, AR 72203-8111

Registering by mail is easy and only costs you the price of the stamp. If you miss the 30-day deadline don't worry, go ahead and register because then you'll be ready for the next local, state, or national election. And remember, every vote counts!

Click here for a copy of the Arkansas Voter Registration Application:
http://www.sos.arkansas.gov/elections/elections_pdfs/voter/voter_reg_ap_ar.pdf

ONE MILLION DOLLARS!!!!!
Twenty-one 2008 Pre-College Programs Bridge students have been awarded a total of $961,800.00 in scholarships and grants this year...almost ONE MILLION DOLLARS! From University of Arkansas Silas Hunt and Chancellor's Scholars, to Dell Scholars and Arkansas Academic Challenge recipients, this year's bridge class pulled in an incredible amount of merit-based awards.
CONGRATULATIONS!!!

UBMS students earned $593,800.00.
UB students earned $142,500.00.
REAL students earned $225,500.00.

From Degree to Paycheck: Which Degrees Offer the Best Return?
By Clare Kaufman
 
For most people, a college degree is second only to a home as the biggest investment they will ever make. It's also among the most reliable investments, paying dividends throughout the graduate's life. To make the most of your college tuition dollar, consider these five high-value degrees.
 
With college tuition climbing, prospective students may be wondering whether that college degree is really worth it. The short answer: yes. Bachelor's degree holders earn an average of 88 percent more than high school graduates, an additional $23,300 per year. Over a lifetime, they net $2.1 million compared to $1.2 for a high school graduate.
 
The gap widens further for degrees in areas such as business, healthcare, and technology. Here's a look at which degrees get the most mileage in the marketplace.
 
1. Master of Business Administration (MBA) There's a reason the MBA is the most popular graduate degree program on campus. Business school graduates experience an average 35 percent increase from their pre-MBA salary. Entry-level MBAs can expect a paycheck 71 percent higher than they would have received with a bachelor's degree. Those bonuses more than offset the cost of tuition.
 
Financially savvy MBA candidates can lessen the impact of tuition costs by continuing to work and taking advantage of low-interest student loans. A U.S. Department of Education study found that three out of four business school students worked more than 35 hours per week while completing their MBA. Online MBA programs play a role in this trend, allowing working adults to work toward the degree after business hours.
 
Bottom Line: Two years in business school will pay dividends for a lifetime--both in terms of higher pay and broader career opportunities.
 
2. Bachelor of Science in Engineering (BS in Engineering) According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, starting salaries for engineers are among the highest for all college graduates. Four years in the college engineering classroom can net graduates an average starting salary of around $50,000. Petroleum engineers lead the pack with a median salary of $60,718 in 2007, with chemical engineers not far behind. Overall, engineers in the various specialties earn median salaries ranging from $65,000 to $100,000.
 
Bottom Line: A bachelor's degree in engineering provides the right balance of applied job skills and general college education to unlock real value in the job market.
 
3. Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree Nursing is the success story of the current economy; the BLS calls the job outlook "excellent," citing 23 percent job growth overall, up to 39 percent in physician offices. The booming demand for nurses, which already constitutes the largest sector of the health care job market at 2.9 million, translates into salaries, benefits, student loan forgiveness programs, and even signing bonuses.
 
A four-year BSN is one of three routes to licensure as a registered nurse. Other options include the two- to three-years Bachelor of Science in Engineering (BS in Engineering) or the three-year Registered Nursing diploma. The BSN offers the broadest opportunities of the three.
 
Bottom Line: An aging population promises a strong future-and a stable income-for nurses, even amid economic downturn.
 
4. Associate Degree in Paralegal Studies Paralegals are taking on more tasks previously reserved for attorneys-with a college education that costs a fraction of their J.D.-holding colleagues. A two-year associate degree in Paralegal Studies is the most common route into a paralegal career. Full-fledged attorneys, by contrast, spend six years in college-four years to earn a bachelor's degree and then two years at a professional law school. Nevertheless, paralegals are entrusted with high-level roles such as research analysis and preparing legal documents.
 
An experienced paralegal makes an average salary of $65,368. Considering that the average total cost for an associate degree at an online or campus-based college is $26,400, the degree will pay for itself many times over.
 
Bottom Line:Paralegals enjoy a direct route from community college classroom to courtroom, without missing out on the benefits of a legal paycheck.
 
5. Associate of Applied Science in Information Technology (AAS in IT) The IT department is no longer the province of high-school computer geeks and prodigies without a college degree. Advancing technology and job market competition have made an associate or bachelor's degree a basic qualification for an IT career. Even college dropout Bill Gates has since gone on to finish his Harvard bachelor's degree. Two years in school can afford techies with a wealth of applied skills in network, database, and systems administration; computer programming, Web design, and more. An IT specialist makes an average salary of $62,521; managers average $83,350.
 
Bottom Line: Applied training in Information Technology carries significant value in an information economy, and IT salaries show it.
 
Higher education is worth the investment in nearly any field-but some degrees are worth more than others. Some job skills can be learned "live," in the workplace, but a college degree affords the foundation for on-the-job training-and a foot in the door.
 

Pre-College Programs and Bridge students Adopt-a-Trail
Staff members from Pre-College Programs and five Bridge students got together on Monday June 2, 2008 in an effort to help keep Fayetteville green and healthy. PCP has officially adopted Frisco Trail, and unofficially Tanglewood Branch, and we cleaned the trail and creek on Monday afternoon. In those four hours, we picked up old tires, lawn chairs, grills, styrofoam bits, plastic of every size, shape and color, cutlery, tubing, glass and plastic bottles, aluminum cans and many other objects that had found their way onto and into our natural landscape. The group of 22 people collected about 25 large bags full of garbage! For more information about Adopt-a-Trail programs, please read below.
 
Adopt-A-Park and Adopt-A-Trails programs are part of the City of Fayetteville Parks and Recreation volunteer program. Every organization that choses to adopt a park or a trail will have its name installed at the adopted facility. For more information regarding this program, please refer to the following website:
 
http://www.accessfayetteville.org/government/parks_and_recreation/trails_and_greenways/index.cfm

CONGRATULATIONS TO JOSÉ GUTIERREZ AND JORGE GARCIA!!!
These two UB participants have been selected by Tyson Foods, Inc. to work as interns in Tyson's Computer Information Systems division.
 
This is a long-term opportunity for José and Jorge, who will start the internship this summer and may be able to continue throughout their senior year and into college.
 
During this time, they will be trained to handle aspects of Tyson's IT division and they will get paid for it!
 
If you are interested in pursuing a career in computer technology, be sure to indicate that on your UB PACP next fall.

DELL SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS!!!
CONGRATULATIONS to Maegan Huffman (UB-Lincoln High School), Sierra McCabe (UBMS- Van Buren High School) and Jennifer Garcia (REAL-Springdale High School) for winning THREE of FOUR Dell Scholarships awarded to students in the state of Arkansas.
 
Each one of these students has been awarded $20,000 for college and a Dell laptop computer.
 
The Dell Scholars Program is offered to high school students participating in approved college readiness programs, such as Upward Bound. If you’d like to learn more, visit the website at www.dellscholars.org.
 
Congratulations also to Laterika McBride of Stephens High School in Stephens, AR for winning the fourth Dell Scholarship awarded in Arkansas.

DO NOT Pay for Scholarship Searches or Services
Some of you have been receiving information from various companies about scholarship and financial aid searches for college. These are search services that cost $$$$!

Please DON'T pay for them!

As participants in Academy, Upward Bound, and REAL, you already have access to the same information you'd be paying for with this program.

If you're interested in checking out scholarships and signing up for search engines, check out these FREE websites:

For National Scholarships: http://www.fastweb.com/

For Arkansas Scholarships: http://www.fundmyfuture.info/

If you or your parents have any questions about any of these programs that require a fee, please feel free to call Rickey, Jason, Francesca or Nikki at 479.575.3553.

Harvard will pay Low-Income Students
Harvard University announced over the weekend that from now on undergraduate students from low-income families will pay no tuition. In making the announcement, Harvard's president Lawrence H. Summers said, 'When only 10 percent of the students in Elite higher education come from families in lower half of the income distribution, we are not doing enough. We are not doing enough in bringing elite higher education to the lower half of the income distribution.'
 
If you know of a family earning less than $60,000 a year with an honor student graduating from high school soon, Harvard University wants to pay the tuition. The prestigious university recently announced that from now on undergraduate students from low-income families can go to Harvard for free...no tuition and no student loans!
 
To find out more about Harvard offering free tuition for families making less than $60,000 a year visit Harvard's financial aid website at: http://www.fao.fas.harvard.edu or call the school's financial aid office at (617) 495-1581.

Virtual College Tour
There is a Virtual College Fair that over 10,000 students registered for and that features more than 100 colleges. Although the official college fair is over, you can still go to the website and learn a lot about the 100 featured colleges. You have to register with your e-mail address and then you get access to all of the information. Check it out --- it’s really cool! http://www.collegeweeklive.com/

UA Launches "Access Arkansas" Initiative for Need-Based Scholarship Support
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Students who qualify to attend the University of Arkansas but who may need additional financial support to attend the institution will soon have a new opportunity to make pursuing a college degree a reality. The University of Arkansas has launched Access Arkansas, a program committed to raising money for need-based scholarship support. The program was approved in the fall of 2006 by the university's Board of Advisors, an organization that helps guide the institution's advancement and fundraising efforts. Access Arkansas, which has already raised $500,000 in gift commitments, focuses on undergraduate students. The overall goal for the program is $15 million over five years. "There is an immediate need for an initiative like Access Arkansas," said Chancellor John A. White. "Many students work part-time and even full-time jobs while they are in school and still graduate with an inordinate amount of debt. In fact, many students never graduate because they do not have the financial support to remain in school. Access Arkansas will help individuals who face these challenges. Our state is near the bottom nationally in the percent of people 25 and older who have earned a bachelor's degree, and the affordability of college is certainly a factor in this statistic." Over the years, it has become increasingly difficult for lower- and middle-income Arkansans to pay for a college education, both at the University of Arkansas and other institutions across the state. Many face a significant funding gap, which is the difference between the cost to attend the university and the money a student can secure from all sources, including family, scholarships, grants and loans. Data reveal that the annual average funding gap at the University of Arkansas for nearly 4,000 students who completed federal financial aid forms has risen steadily from $7,502 in 2005 to $8,646 in 2007. In fact, the average debt load carried by students by the time they graduate from the university has reached approximately $20,000. A degree is undoubtedly needed in today's labor market. The rising cost of earning a bachelor's degree - particularly in a state with the economic demographic of Arkansas - is a real barrier for many students, and workers with at least a bachelor's degree gain access to the nation's higher paying jobs, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics reports. Recent Census Bureau data show the average salary for a person with a bachelor's degree is $23,000 more than the average salary of a non-degreed individual. The economic competitiveness of Arkansas is undercut because too many citizens cannot break the cost barrier. Through Access Arkansas endowments, each benefactor will play a major role in the effort to bring private, long-term support to this campus for need-based scholarships. "The importance of need-based financial support extends well beyond our university," said Dave Gearhart, vice chancellor for University Advancement. "Governor Beebe recently announced the GO! Opportunities Grant Program in Arkansas, which will award money to students with need. This statewide commitment truly demonstrates the breadth of this issue. Through the Access Arkansas program, we will work to extend access to all capable students. We are grateful to those who have contributed so far, and we hope to see many alumni and friends of the university supporting this critical initiative."

Tribute to the Hoovers
To view the tribute to the Hoovers copy and paste the links below. We all loved and cared for them so much. They will me missed. Link 1- http://nwahomepage.com/content/news/archive Link 2- http://www.4029tv.com/video/index.html

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