Upward Bound Students Gain a Taste of University STEM Activities

The 2019 Upward Bound summer program is in full swing. This program brings students from rural Alaska to the UAF campus for six weeks to be immersed in technology, food, energy and water research. This year's students are from the Alaska communities of Chevak, Saint Marys, Nikiski and Chevak. Students from larger cities and states, including Chicago, Miami, Vermont and Hawaii, have joined the Alaska team for one week to participate and share cultural and learning experiences together.

The students will learn how to build robot and underwater vehicles and to automate water delivery in indoor grow towers. They’ll take tours of interesting locations in Alaska and experience staying in the ��ķ��Ƶ’ dorms.

Upward Bound is a college access program that serves high school students from low-income backgrounds to encourage and support them to graduate from high school and seek higher education. The partners are all committed to encouraging students to consider and enter science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education and careers.

“Upward Bound targets low-income students, as well as students who aspire to be the first member of their family to attend college,” said John Monahan, who serves as UAF’s Upward Bound director. “It’s a real challenge to convince first-gen students they have what it takes to succeed in STEM fields. This sort of program can go a long way to getting them excited about STEM and giving them the confidence to pursue it.”

The summer session is a partnership between UAF Upward Bound, ACEP, Raspberry Shake Foundation, Easybotics, Education for life, Teaching Through Technology, Chena Hot Springs Resort and more.

To find out more about Upward Bound, visit its website at .

Upward Bound students are working with ACEP researchers on STEM activities. Photo by Amanda Byrd.