September 13, 2021
Upward Bound
Almost 30% of Kutztown University students are the first in their families to attend college. Professor Jose Rosado knows what it’s like to be a first-generation college student and he’s used that experience to mentor underserved high school students through the grant-funded TRIO Upward Bound program at Kutztown University
What Does the Upward Bound Program Do?
Professor Jose Rosado, director, and Jennifer Richter, coordinator, lead the Upward Bound program at Kutztown University, which prepares and supports eligible high school students to succeed in postsecondary education.
One of the most memorable experiences through the Upward Bound program, for leaders and students alike, is the annual six-week summer program. Each year, students take academic enrichment courses at William Allen High School in English, math, science and Spanish during the first five weeks of the program. Each student is matched with a mentor and every Friday, Upward Bound organizers bring the students on college visits.
During the final week of the summer program, students live on the Kutztown University campus – eating in dining halls, sitting in on guest lectures from professors and other presenters, and participating in recreational activities – to get a feel for what the college experience is like.
To see the students on a college campus and watch them feel and believe that they belong there and that they can see themselves in that environment, I think that’s very rewarding,” Rosado said. “When they have those experiences and those opportunities to be on a college campus, I think it really helps them believe that college is something that they can realize.
Professor Jose RosadoRichter has been the coordinator for the Upward Bound program for three years and has found joy watching students as they blossom through the program.
“I’ve gotten to watch students grow as they come in really shy and unsure of who they are and what direction they are going, and then leave with a solid plan. If you ask some of the students, one of their favorite memories of the program is being in these activities and blossoming – branching out, trying new things and meeting new people.”
Rosado loves watching first-generation students receive the mentorship and access to college resources that he knows are so important.
“Being able to provide these opportunities to students that would probably otherwise not have an opportunity to have these types of services -- to connect with these young people while they’re still in high school, and to help them prepare academically, socially and emotionally to make the transition from high school to college -- is amazing,” Rosado said. “Since most of the students in our program are first-generation college students, they don’t have those people within their support group or family that have travelled down this path.”
As a part of the 2021 summer program, KU Director of Health Promotion Fran Cortez Funk presented to the Upward Bound students about how to improve personal well-being.
“The students in Upward Bound are our future. The students are passionate, visionary and risk-takers in moving forward to reach their educational goals. I am originally from the Allentown area and I am always thrilled to be invited to work with them,” Funk said. “I am a first- generation college student. Both my parents, English was their second language. It’s always nice to give back to young minds in the Allentown area.” -Fran Cortez Funk
Keeping Students Engaged During the Pandemic
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Upward Bound program organizers encountered several problems. How will students who don’t have access to proper technology continue to learn remotely? How can we help students with their emotional needs? How can we keep students engaged from a distance?
There were many students involved with the Upward Bound program who didn’t have adequate access to laptops or Wi-Fi when the pandemic first hit and remote learning first started. The program stepped in and connected students with a local nonprofit organization, Unidos, to secure access to Chromebooks and Wi-Fi hotspots.
“On top of the pandemic, the protests in response to social injustice issues struck a chord with many of the students in the program,” Rosado said. “We were able to address the students’ emotional and psychological needs by having open, respectful conversations, making students aware of different resources in the community in regard to food insecurity, and providing numbers of different community-based support agencies that could address their needs or their families’ needs.”
Organizers in the Upward Bound program also connect with students by offering tutoring and other academic support services, hosting movie nights, dropping off lunch to students once a week, coordinating distribution of supplies for any special programming, and continuing to meet any needs that arise.
You can learn more about the Upward Bound program on their webpage.
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READ FULL STORYAfter graduation, Heather Browne '16 moved back to the Baltimore area, where she is now a first-grade teacher at the Maryland School for the Blind.
READ FULL STORYTwo years after graduating in 2009, Clay created his first fantasy football website. By 2016, ESPN came calling.
READ FULL STORYNessa Cartagena of Bethlehem, Pa., was awarded the 2018 Enlightened Leadership Scholarship to attend KU and majors in finance and personal financial planning.
READ FULL STORYA field hockey player by training, she soon identified the characteristic that would come to define her love for politics: a competitive spirit.
READ FULL STORYPeace Corps volunteer Yorman De La Rosa made it to Morocco by way of Kutztown University, after a semester-long stop in our nation’s capital.
READ FULL STORYMarybeth Kern ’09, M’19, who recently secured a spot as a featured artist in Logic’s music video, is all about collaboration.
READ FULL STORYTekiah Brabham's commitment to urban classrooms leads her to teach in Washington, D.C.
READ FULL STORYKU Celebrates First Graduating Cohort of the Education Doctorate Program.
READ FULL STORYChristina Franko Uliano ’07 used a Fulbright Teachers for Global Classrooms grant to broaden her curriculum. After spending time abroad in Colombia, Christina joined a Fulbright global education online course to learn the tools for bringing global thinking into the classroom.
READ FULL STORYJacey Tran and Bekah Roux, honors students at KU, became fast friends during the unexpected 2020 quarantine.
READ FULL STORYKutztown University is celebrating the 10-year anniversary of its relationship with the Lake Peninsula School District in the state of Alaska.
READ FULL STORYSarah is a junior, majoring in social media theory and strategy, with a double minor in business and communications.
READ FULL STORYKutztown University gave Moe an opportunity that no other school did, to study a prestigious major while playing championship-level basketball.
READ FULL STORYMichael is a sophomore, majoring in secondary education with a concentration in mathematics.
READ FULL STORYIn this Kutztown University Student Spotlight, we highlight Laura Gale. Laura is a senior, pursuing anthropology degree. See why she chose KU!
READ FULL STORYKutztown University alumnus, Collin DiGalbo, signs professional contract to continue football career overseas.
READ FULL STORYKutztown University student Joey Strain has lived out his dream of being a children’s book illustrator, and he hasn’t even graduated yet.
READ FULL STORYRecent graduate Tyler Shull is ready to set out on his journey as a teacher.
READ FULL STORYBriana combined a marketing major with a social media minor to create a path to success in a field she can't wait to join.
READ FULL STORYSavina found the perfect combination at KU, with a double major in chemistry and environmental science.
READ FULL STORYChinonyerem, "Noye" is a senior, majoring in Elementary Education/Pre-K - 4 and Special Education/Visual Impairments.
READ FULL STORYFrankmarlin is a 2020 Kutztown University graduate of the Studio Arts Program. He returned to KU in 2020-21 as an artist in residence.
READ FULL STORYNicholas found a community of ambitious, talented students who challenge him to grow as an artist and aspiring teacher.
READ FULL STORYStudents and faculty conducted an archaeological dig at a prehistoric site on campus.
READ FULL STORYKU alumnus dedicates career to defending "everyday people."
READ FULL STORYKU alumna charts a path to her dream job.
READ FULL STORYKU alumna works to increase the prevalence of multicultural literature in schools.
READ FULL STORYKU alumnus finds entrepreneurial success in an unexpected way.
READ FULL STORYKU alumna find success in show business.
READ FULL STORYThis professional writing graduate is helping to bring PennDOT's message to the people of Pennsylvania.
READ FULL STORYKU professors and internationally renowned musical duo nurture promising students and promote the university’s musical offerings.
READ FULL STORYKutztown University alumnus fights food insecurity with America’s Grow-a-Row
READ FULL STORYPolitical Science alumna pursues career in law.
READ FULL STORYAlumna's experience at KU leads to her dream job in a copper mine.
READ FULL STORYKutztown University alumnus is continuing the legacy of education.
READ FULL STORYMeet Kutztown University student Mallory Schmidt who is studying Special Education/Visually Impaired.
READ FULL STORYMeet Kutztown University Student Rotuk Rahedi studying Sport Management.
READ FULL STORYEnvironmental science student Patrick plans to continue his research in graduate school.
READ FULL STORYMeet Kutztown University student Bianca Rosales studying Art Education.
READ FULL STORYBiology major has soared with research opportunities at KU and beyond.
READ FULL STORYThis 2019 graduate is on her way to a pediatric residency after completing med school.
READ FULL STORYMeet Kutztown University student Victoria Fischer, studying Cinema, Television and Media Production
READ FULL STORYMeet Kutztown University student Sylvannah Gulley, a Library Science major.
READ FULL STORYMeet Kutztown University student Nicholas Coppolino, a Business Administration/Entrepreneurship major.
READ FULL STORYStudent spotlight alert! Meet Eva Labram. She is a Professional Writing major at Kutztown University. Learn more about her education journey here.
READ FULL STORYAudrey Zimmerman co-owns the oldest children's shoe company in America.
READ FULL STORYThis 2014 graduate is practicing the art of dentistry.
READ FULL STORYKutztown alum graduates from prestigious FBI National Academy.
READ FULL STORYTraveling to the brink of volcanoes.
READ FULL STORYEnsuring Safety in Research Environments.
READ FULL STORYLaying the Groundwork for a Better Future
READ FULL STORYAlumnus strives to empower everyday people to solve their money challenges.
READ FULL STORYKutztown University works with renowned Rodale Institute to prepare a new generation of agricultural scientists.
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READ FULL STORY