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UB Update
May 2024
Academic Year Program
Just a few weeks left!
Please remember to attend your school meeting the week before a UB Saturday. It is important to attend the school meetings in order to provide an update on your academic progress and/or struggles. There is a virtual make-up option available on Thursdays at 4:15 pm (The link will be sent to your email). You can also email or call the UB Office with your grades and if you will be attending Saturday to receive credit for the school meeting. We will have our last UB Saturday of the year on May 11th.
Report cards for the third marking period were distributed at the beginning of April. Remember, if you receive a D/F grade or are below a 2.5 GPA for the quarter you will be placed on Academic Improvement Status (AIS). Per your AY Contract, students on AIS must meet with Upward Bound twice per quarter until improvement is observed. You can schedule these meeting using the button below--be sure to select Academic Success as the meeting type. It is the student's responsibility to schedule these meetings with Upward Bound.
We have in-person tutors available to work with UB students. Reach out to the UB Office to make arrangements to meet with one of our tutors. The Allegany County Library system also has many resources for students. You can also reach out to your teachers or guidance counselor about setting up tutoring through your school.
Student and Staff Recognition
National History Day
National History Day® (NHD) is an educational nonprofit organization that aims to help improve the teaching and learning of history in middle and high school through an innovative framework of historical inquiry and research. Students learn history by selecting topics of interest, conducting year-long research projects, and presenting their findings using creative approaches and media. Beginning in the fall, students chose a topic related to the annual theme “Turning Points in History.” After conducting extensive research on their topics, the projects were entered into showcases and competitions at the local, school level.
Upward Bound Students Receiving Awards
Emily Rosenberger and Makaylyn Whetzel: Center for Career and Technical Education, 1st Place: Advent of Anesthesia - Exhibit
Clementine Fenton: Mountain Ridge High School, 3rd Place Documentary: Route 40/Hotel Gunter
Sophia Zhang: Mountain Ridge High School, 1st Place Paper: The Atomic Bombs- Origins and Effects of the first Atomic Bombs put into practice in American History
Gabriella Guevara-Zelaya: Mountain Ridge High SChool 1st Place Website: Rosa Parks
Student Council Convention and Conference
Allegany County Association of Student Councils (ACASC) recently attended the Maryland Association of Student Councils (MASC) State Convention in Ocean City, MD. The convention theme this year was “Rock on MASC 2023-2024.” During the 3-day convention, students listened to a motivational speaker; elected 2024-2025 MASC Officers, attended leadership activities and workshops, and were able to participate in a variety of recreational activities.
ACPS students recently attended the Maryland Association of Student Councils (MASC) Spring Leadership Conference at South Hagerstown High School, in Washington County. Students explored their leadership ability and their potential to serve and inspire those around them. MASC workshops are facilitated by high school students. They believe that peer-to-peer teaching is a great technique used in student leadership that allows everyone involved getting the most out of the experience. Throughout the whole day, delegates and advisors were able to network with hundreds of other student leaders from across the state.
Congrats to Zoey Piper for participating in these events!
Tri-State Math Contest
ACPS students recently participated in the 34th ACM Tri-State Math Contest. This event, sponsored by the LaVale Lions Club, brings top performing 11th grade mathematics students from Maryland, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania to ACM for individual and team competition.
UB participant, Sophia Zhang (Mountain Ridge) captured the individual title. Sophia received scholarship money to ACM for her top three finish.
FSU Annual Deans’ Student Colloquium
Frostburg State University’s Dean of the College of Arts, Humanities and Social & Behavioral Sciences, Dr. Michael Mathias, and Dean of the College of Education and Health & Natural Sciences, Dr. Boyce Williams, recently hosted the 23rd Annual Deans’ Student Colloquium and dinner.
Students were nominated by faculty in their respective colleges to participate in the colloquium based on their involvement in unique and interesting projects. The event provided participants the opportunity to discuss their work with their peers in an informal setting, promoting interdisciplinary understanding and opening the door for potential future collaboration and blended ideas.
“These highly engaged students have distinguished themselves through their research, creativity and community service activities,” said Mathias. “Dean Williams and I take great pride in the achievements.”
The twelve students who showcased their work at the colloquium included Upward Bound Tutor/Counselors, Seyanna Rodney (biology) and Peyton Carroll (visual arts).
College Entrance Exams
SAT Registration
Upward Bound will no longer be issued SAT Fee Waivers. Students either need to get a waiver code from their guidance counselor OR apply directly through College Board for a waiver. If you are going to apply for a waiver, please do it ASAP. It can take up to three business days to receive an email with the status of your waiver.
All UB students are automatically eligible for fee waivers because of being a TRIO student. Upward Bound will provide the proof that you are a UB student when they email us (you will have listed UB as the "Adult Contact to Confirm Eligibility" in your request).Below are instructions on how to request a fee waiver through College Board.
REMAINING SAT DATE: JUNE 1, 2024 (registration due May 16th)
ACT Registration
Prep for College This Summer With ACT, with your June ACT registration, you get:
- $9 off your ACT Test Information Release (TIR) question and answer key*
(Promo code JUNETIR). - Access to a FREE college planning event hosted by Encourage®.
- Exclusive participation in Q&A sessions with ACT’s lineup of college counseling professionals (dates and seats will be limited).
- Offers are only good until May 19 at 11:59 p.m. CT, so start planning for college today!
REMAINING ACT DATES: JUNE 8, 2024 (registration due by May 3rd) and JULY 13, 2024 (registration due by June 7th)
Financial Aid Planning
FAFSA Processing
If you have already completed your FAFSA, please sign in to see if it's been processed. If you need to make corrections, your FAFSA must be processed first. You should save your FAFSA summary for your own reference. Please make sure to note your SAI (Student Aid Index). Students should begin receiving financial aid offers from their chosen colleges/universities soon, if you haven't received on already. Please feel free to schedule a meeting to discuss your aid offer with UB as aid offer letters are often confusing.
MDCAPS
The Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) has extended the priority deadline to submit the 2024-2025 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the MHEC One-App for undocumented students to May 15, 2024. The FINAL deadline is June 1, 2024.
Students who complete and submit their FAFSA or MHEC One-App by the priority deadline are included in the initial round of awards in June of 2024.
If applicable, students will have until June 15, 2024 to submit requested documentation for priority awarding.
Important: Students will not be considered for the Guaranteed Access (GA) or Educational Assistance (EA) grants unless a Maryland institution of higher education is listed on the FAFSA and students will not be considered for the Maryland Community College Promise Scholarship unless a Maryland community college is listed on the FAFSA.
Summer Residential Program
Less than 50 days to go!
Summer forms were mailed out last week. You must return ALL the forms no later than May 11th--No exceptions!
Required Forms include:
- Medical Form
- Week 1 Meal Form
- Attendance Form
- Transportation/Bus Stop Form
- Cellphone and Electronics Contract
Roommate requests can be made via the form linked below. Every effort will be made to assign you the roommate you desire. Final room and roommate selection will be made by the Director and Assistant Director. Students who have been in the program the longest will be given preference. There will be no roommate changes made on the day you check in, and only the Director can make a room or roommate change after that. Roommate requests must be submitted no later than May 24th.
Now Accepting New Students!
Join Upward Bound
Eligibility Requirements
- Attend high school in Allegany County
- Currently in grades 8 through 12 (Grade 8 students may participate upon grade completion)
- Demonstrate college potential and interest/desire to attend college
- Exhibit a need for UB Services
- 2/3 of participants must be both income eligible and be potential first-generation college graduate (neither parent has a 4-year college degree)
- 1/3 of participants can be either income eligible or potential first-generation college graduate
You can review current income allowances on the U.S. Department of Education web site.
Upward Bound Academic Expectations
- Complete a rigorous secondary school program of study
- Complete at least 2 years of mathematics beyond Algebra 1; 4 years of mathematics expected for USM institutions (FSU, UMCP, TU, SU, UMBC)
- Complete 3 years of science including 1 year of at least 2 of the following courses: Biology. Chemistry, and Physics
- Complete at least 1 year of foreign language; 2 years of foreign language expected for USM institutions
- Complete 3 years of social studies
- Have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or above on a 4.0 scale at the end of the school year each year of high school
- Achieve at the proficient level on state assessment in reading/language arts and math before graduating high school
- Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and Maryland College Aid Processing System (MDCAPS) senior year before deadline
- Enroll in program of postsecondary education by fall term following graduation from high school
- Place into college-level math and English without need for remediation in the first year of postsecondary education
- Attain either an associate’s degree within 3 years or a bachelor’s degree within 6 years, preferably within 2 years and 4 years, respectively
Contact Upward Bound
Email: upwardbound@frostburg.edu
Website: www.frostburg.edu/upward-bound
Location: 101 Braddock Road, Frostburg, MD, USA
Phone: (301) 687-4994