UB summer 2023 group photo

About Upward Bound

What is Upward Bound?

Upward Bound (UB) at the University of Virginia’s College at Wise is a pre-college, academic support program for high school students whose mission is to help its participants achieve success in life by earning a post-secondary education. In addition to providing participants and their parents/guardians with knowledge and guidance leading to post-secondary enrollment, UB also provides comprehensive academic support, counseling services, and opportunities for cultural enrichment.

Our UB program has two parts - a summer component and an academic year component. During the summer, students reside on campus as part of a "college simulation" for a fun-packed 4-6 weeks, where they receive instruction in core subjects to prepare them for the upcoming school year. During the academic year, students attend monthly meetings at UVA Wise, participate in individual advising sessions, and receive a wide variety of academic support services designed to prepare them for college.

Upward Bound is one of eight TRiO programs funded by the U. S. Department of Education. As recipients of the department's funding, UB is evaluated using six objectives that must be reported on each year.

Program Objectives

  • Academic Performance(GPA): 80% of participants served during the project year will have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or better on a four-point scale at the end of the school year.
  • Academic Performance on Standardized Test: 90% of UB seniors served during the project year will have achieved at the proficient level on state assessments in reading/language arts and math
  • Secondary School Retention and Graduation: 95% of project participants served during the project year will continue in school for the next academic year, at the next grade level, or will have graduated from secondary school with a regular secondary school diploma
  • Secondary School Graduation: 50% of all current and prior year UB participants, who at the time of entrance into the project had an expected high school graduation date in the school year, will complete a rigorous secondary school program of study and graduate with a regular secondary school diploma
  • Postsecondary Enrollment: 61% of all current and prior UB participants, who at the time of entrance into the project had an expected high school graduation date in the school year, will enroll in a program of postsecondary education by the fall term immediately following high school graduation or will have received notification, by the fall term immediately following high school, from an institution of higher education, of acceptance but deferred enrollment until the next academic semester (e.g. spring semester)
  • Postsecondary Completion: 16% of participants, who enrolled in a program of postsecondary education by the fall term immediately following high school graduation or by the next academic term (e.g. spring term) as a result of acceptance but deferred enrollment, will attain either an associate’s or bachelor’s degree within six years following graduation from high school

Who do we serve?

Upward Bound at The University of Virginia's College at Wise serves 80 eligible students from three target high schools in Wise County and Dickenson County. These schools are Ridgeview High School, Eastside High School, Union High School, and Central High School.

To qualify for Upward Bound, students must meet these criteria:

  • Must be in 9th-12th grade, AND
  • Must attend Ridgeview HS, Central HS, Eastside HS, or Union HS, AND
  • Must plan to enroll in college to pursue a 2-year or 4-year degree program immediately after graduating high school, AND
  • Neither parent has earned a four-year college degree, OR
  • The family's taxable income must be at or below 150% of the federal poverty guidelines.

Interested ninth, tenth, eleventh, or twelfth-grade students should complete an Upward Bound application.

Meet the UB Staff

Shelby Roberts - Director

I am a graduate of Pound High School, UVA Wise, and UVA. I completed an internship for college credit with Upward Bound in 1995. The following year, I received a full-time position as the administrative assistant. Two years later, the counselor position became available, and I was moved to that position. In 2016, I became the Director. Hobbies include camping, fishing, hunting, and reading. I am married and have a son and daughter. I believe in providing opportunities to promote a better future for the Upward Bound students.

Adam Moore - Program Coordinator

Hello! My journey with the UVA Wise Upward Bound Program began way back in 1996 when I joined as a student while at Clintwood High School. While in college, I served UB as a tutor and Resident Advisor. Shortly after graduating from UVA Wise with a bachelor’s degree in business, I accepted a full-time position as the program’s Office Administrator. In 2016, I stepped into the position of Program Coordinator. I went on to earn my M.B.A. from King University in Bristol, VA in 2012. My favorite hobbies include hiking, playing drums, and learning the ukulele. I live in Castlewood, VA with my wife, Donna, and our two young children, August and Evie.

 

Hope Farmer - Education Support Specialist

I have had the pleasure of working with Upward Bound in many different capacities throughout the years. My adventures with Upward Bound included being a student, an RA, and a teacher for the program, all before I got to where I am now. I received my bachelor's degree in chemistry from UVA Wise many, many years ago. After accepting my current position as an Education Support Specialist with Upward Bound in 2017, I received my master's in Biological Sciences from WGU in 2020. My hobbies include taking nature walks, being a pickle aficionado, and collecting Wonder Woman memorabilia. I live in the Town of Wise, where I feed the lonely squirrels that terrorize me daily, wanting more peanuts. I have a loving partner, Stuart, who has an immaculate son, Nolan, and the unofficial UB mascot, Ladybug. I strive to provide an accepting and nurturing environment for all of our students, with the hopes of helping them achieve their future goals.