Despite the cold and the

snow, Upward Bound students and staff have had a winter packed with ed-ucational activities!

In November, students attended the 2017 Musical Heritage Celebration, a charitable event to raise funds for arts and educational outreach for youth. The celebration featured the top five finalists from the 2017 Peterson Vocal Competition along with several guest performers. The competition identified, encouraged, and awarded scholar-ships/cash awards to talented vocal un-dergraduate students from Kentucky colleges and universities within a 100-mile radius of Lexington. Upward Bound students had the opportunity to interact with post-secondary music stu-dents and instructors after the competi-tion.

In December, Upward Bound students went to visit Lexington’s traf-fic control center with a special presen-tation by Chris Quan, the traffic infor-mation technician. Students received an in-depth view of traffic management in Fayette County. Studnets left well-informed after an in-depth review was given of traffic management in Fayette County.

This February students were at Berea College for the annual Kentucky Trio Day event. The event was spon-sored by the Kentucky Association of Educational Opportunity Program Per-sonnel (KAEOPP). Approximately 500 TRIO Program personnel and students from around the Commonwealth at-tended and participated in student com-

petitions, workshops, speaker presentations and campus tours.

In addition to regular Upward Bound activities, the program has recently welcomed two new staff members, Kita Carver in the Program Director position and Yamukumba Mbayo as the Student Development Specialist. Ms. Carver, a Kentucky native, precisely from Simpson County completed her undergraduate and post-graduate education at the University of Kentucky. Ms. Carver has worked for Fayette County Public Schools for the past 6 years and is thrilled to continue her ef-forts in supporting and providing educa-tional opportunities to the communities she serves. Kita is thrilled to be working with Upward Bound, and looks forward to being a resource to all UB students as they pur-sue their dreams and aspirations. Yamukumba Mbayo, was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, as a refu-gee, he moved to Lexington Kentucky at a young age, and attended Henry Clay High School. Mbayo received his undergraduate degree at Earlham College in Richmond Indiana where he played soccer. He then attended Kentucky State University where he completed his graduate-studies. Among other things, he has been involved in pro-jects development initiatives across the world. Throughout his time in Lexington, Yamukumba has mentored a diverse groups of youth who faced many of the same challenges as he did in his pursuit of higher education. For Yamukumba, educa-tion offers invaluable opportunities. Ya-mukumba looks forward to helping con-nect students to the resources they need to succeed.

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Spring 2018

“When we put a limit on what we will do, we put a limit on what we can do.” Charles Schwab

Hepatitis A Vaccine Required for School Next Fall. Senior Highlight Preparing for College Scholarship Opportunities Upward Bound Announcement

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Hepatitis A vaccine required for school next fall. By Valarie Honeycutt Spears (vhoneycutt@herald-leader.com)

Published on Dec 15, 2017

Under a new state regulation all Kentucky students must have proof of having the Hepatitis A vac-cine by the first day of school. In Fayette County, that is Aug. 15, 2018.

But Fayette school officials are sending out an extra reminder: The first in the series of two doses should be given in January or February in order to be compliant by August 15, said district Health and Wellness Coordinator Debbie Boian.

Every student in Kentucky will be required to show proof of a Hepatitis A vaccine. Parents should contact their pediatrician or healthcare provider and ask if their child has received the Hepatitis A vac-cine. If children have not received the vaccine, Boian said, parents should make an appointment to get the vaccinations. Hepatitis A doses have to be spaced six months apart, so getting in by mid-February will help students receive both doses prior to the start of school.

If students have received the vaccine, parents should request a new immunization form from the physician’s office showing the dates the shots were given. If the physician’s office participates in the Ken-tucky Immunization Registry the school nurse can print a vaccination certificate off the registry.

In addition to the Hepatitis A vaccine, students 16 and older are required to provide proof of hav-ing had the Meningococcal ACWY vaccine.

Boian said the vaccines have been studied and are safe. “A student who misses school due to a serious ill-ness struggles to regain the time lost in instruction. Our goal is to promote good health and provide par-ents with information to assist them in keeping their children healthy,” said Boian.

She said Fayette County Schools officials are encouraging employees to get the vaccine as well.

In late November, the Kentucky Department for Public Health declared an outbreak of acute Hep-atitis A with cases in several counties in Kentucky. Fayette County has not reported any cases in the latest outbreak but has had one case in 2017, said Cabinet for Health and Family Services spokeswoman Beth Fisher.

As of Friday, throughout Kentucky, the total number of cases of Hepatitis A for 2017 is 52.

The total statewide number for the recent out-break is 44, Fisher said.

Senior’s Highlights Congratulations to our senior students! This is an exciting time for Upward Bound as we assist our students in applying for college and completing scholarship applications and financial aid forms. Many of our students have started receiving college acceptance letters, and we are so proud of them and the work they have done to make it this far! Our seniors stand on the brink of an exciting and potentially life-altering decision, choosing what college to attend.

Senior Class of 2018:

Roshan Adhikari, Jania Bell, JaNae Blair, Kaila Brown, Jassmine Byrd, Tavairra Caulder, Madison Clark, Hanna Doss, E’Nyja Eqal, Selena Erazo, Andria Fletcher, Zaria Fulz, Destiny Garland, Joshua Gross, Joshua Hancock, DelTazhia Jackson, Gabrielle Jackson, Jada McCann, Patience Nzilamba, Tera Philips, Cloe Shearer, Alianna Sip-son, Xedeja Smith, Melissa Vega, Diamond Webster, Kira Whitfield.

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Reprinted with editor’s permission. Direct link to the article; http://www.kentucky.com/news/local/education/article189985794.html

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Maria Bringas 2/9

Jassmine Byrd 2/9

Destin Newman 2/10

Queenzlynn Boateng 2/12

Kira Whitfield 2/22

Joshua Hancock 3/31

Devaira Welch 4/3

Binah Israel 4/5

Selena Erazo 4/6

Wesam Said 4/10

Brittany Catlett 4/23

Teryn Hicks 5/2

Aya Eqal 5/11

Danielle Korsah-Brown 5/19

Jade Smith 1/2

Alana Williams 1/19

Mia-Angel Alonzo 1/23

DelTazhia Jackson 1/28

Andria Fletcher 1/31

Gabrielle Jackson 2/1

Tomaz Wagoner 2/8

Preparing for College During your Last Semester.

We continue to stress this point to our college bound students. College is an expensive in-vestment. High school seniors should make sure that they have completed the online FAFSA application by 1am Eastern Time on June 30th, 2018. Its vital to make sure the FAFSA application and other financial aid documents are submitted on time. Additionally, students should be reviewing financial aid and schol-arship offers with parents, and continue searching for other scholarship opportunities. Remembering that many scholarships deadlines fall way past common college application deadlines.

Admissions decision letters will be arriving soon. Keep the Upward Bound staff updated about your progress. This is the time to discuss options if you were not accepted at the school you desired to attend.

Scholarship Opportunities Horatio Alger Kentucky Scholarship ($10,000 award): The program specifically assists high school students who have faced and overcome great obstacles in their young lives. The scholarships are funded by Horatio Alger members who, like the scholars, have experienced challenges but ultimately overcame them to become success-ful business and civic leaders.

Link to the application: goo.gl/stWF2P

Jane Allen Newman Scholarship ($1,000 to $2,000 award): The Jane Allen New m an Scholarship Fund awards three scholarships of $2,500 each to high school seniors in Fayette, Harrison, or Union counties, Ken-tucky with significant financial need who wish to further pursue their education by attending college.

Link for more information: goo.gl/yHBoEC

Loren Richards Elder Care Scholarship ($2,000 ward): For students w ho are prepar ing for careers with older adults by studying nursing, gerontology, public health, human services, social work, and related majors could apply. Access the online application before March 15th to submit a transcript and essay response.

Link for more details: goo.gl/yHBoEC

Contact our office for more guidance: 859-246-6579

ASPIRE Scholars Program ($500 - $1000 award): Renew able Scholarship for Afr ican Am erican High School Seniors Planning to Attend Bluegrass Community & Technical College.

Link to online application: https://goo.gl/L1H8Nv

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Upward Bound Spring Birthdays

Address: 470 Cooper Drive, AT-Building RM# 204, Lexington,

KY 40506

Office Hours: Monday-Friday 8.30a.m—4.30p.m

Phone: (859) 246-6579

Web: bluegrass.kctcs.edu/upward_bound

Kita Carver: kita.carver@kctcs.edu

Yamukumba Mbayo: yamukumba.mbayo@kctcs.edu

The TRIO Upward Bound program has

been hosted by Bluegrass Community & Technical College for more than 20 years. The Upward Bound program is designed to assist high school students to develop the skills and motivation necessary to complete program of secondary education and to enter in a program of postsecondary education.

Current schools being served:

Bryan Station High School Lafayette High School Tates Creek High School George Rogers Clark High School Boyle County High School Danville High School

RETURN TRIP DATES

March 24, 2018

April 14, 2018

May 19, 2018

Announcements

ACT Test Dates

Test Date Registration Deadline (Late Fee Required)

April 14, 2018 March 9, 2018 March 10-23, 2018

June 9, 2018 May 4, 2018 May 5-18, 2018

July 14, 2018 June 15, 2018 June 16-22, 2018

@UpwardBoundBCTC

@Upwardbound_bctc

School Visit Calendar...

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About Upward Bound

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Progress report cards are available for parents. Please, review grades to insure satisfactory aca-demic progress.

The March Return Trip will be a College and Career Fair at Kentucky State University.

Seniors interested in the Bridge program, for an opportunity to earn up to 6 college credits, should be working to meet program requirements and to complete application packet.

Tutoring! Join Upward Bound’s tutoring group on KhanAcademy (code: RK32VNXC)