SUMMER CLASS HOPES TO BE UPWARD BOUND

Michelle Sims wants to be a lawyer, but her friend, LaKeisha Blissett, favors nursing. Justin Mercer likes the sound of "geologist" behind his name, and Anthony Quinn is hoping for a career as a photojournalist.

All of them would be the first in their families to earn a college degree.

The students were among 36 recognized at Southeast Missouri State University's Academic Hall Saturday night for completing a five-week Project Upward Bound summer program that simulates the college experience for high school students hoping to become first-generation college graduates.

Upward Bound serves eight high schools from seven counties in a 75-mile radius. The schools are Cape Girardeau Central High School, Scott County Central, Sikeston, East Prairie, Charleston, New Madrid, Portageville and Caruthersville.

Director Debra Mitchell-Braxton said the federally-funded program gives students the opportunity to take accelerated classes so the transition to college will be easier. Students also receive career and academic counseling, and tutorial assistance throughout high school and go on field trips to colleges and cultural exhibits.

"We work to see that they are confident, they develop self-esteem, and that they know they are intelligent enough to go to college and be successful," said Mitchell-Braxton. "We try to get them beginning in the ninth grade, and each year I can see them develop better social skills and academic skills they're going to need but might not get to experience during the school year because they're concentrating on their academics."

Braxton said students spent much of the summer completing schedules that included college-preparatory courses like algebra, trigonometry, Spanish and advanced composition. However, every student was required to participate in the performing arts course so they could develop fine arts skills.

Performing arts instructor Kimberly Cathey, who doubled as an English instructor, said she saw potential for great writers in her composition classes. She was so impressed by expressive writings by several students that she incorporated their work into the closing activities students performed for their parents.

"These students were writing about parents killed in robbery attempts, thoughts about racial identity, remaining strong after brothers were arrested," Cathey said. "They were writing like they were 50 years old, based on their experiences. I see wonderful potential here."

Michelle Sims, a first-year Upward Bound student and freshman at New Madrid County Central High School, said she worked hard to improve her grades so she could qualify for the program. Sims, who presented a poem written during the program, said Upward Bound has taught her to define goals, devise plans for achieving those goals, and to work hard until she accomplishes them.

"I'm going to be the first person in my whole entire family to go and finish college," Sims said. "That why my family is pushing me so hard to stay here. That's why I'm glad I'm here.".