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Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Upward Bound Scholars Academy (UBSA) students got an overview of what it would be like to be an SIUE Cougar on their first day of summer camp.

Eighteen UBSA students from Collinsville High School (CHS) started their five-week residential summer program on Thursday, June 1, on the Edwardsville campus, according to Letrice “Lee” Young, EdD, program coordinator for SIUE’s CORE T.E.A.M. (College Readiness: Transition, Engage, Achieve and Mentor) Department, who planned the day.

The “welcome wagon” for prospective SIUE students included presentations and tours from the following University staff:

• Rachel Cunningham and Del’Brica Flowers, Admissions coordinators
• Liz Caldieraro, Financial Aid manager
• Rex Jackson, Housing associate director
• Dominic Dorsey II, Accessible Campus Community & Equitable Student Support (ACCESS) director 

“I feel more supported knowing that once I go to college, I won’t be completely on my own,” said UBSA student Madyson Mitchell, CHS sophomore. “It was nice to get an insider’s point of view on everything.”

“I enjoyed the presentations so much, because I have so many questions about college and Google can only do so much,” said UBSA student Darnell Jones, CHS sophomore.

During the camp, the students had courses that included English, Spanish as a Foreign Language, Physics and Advanced Algebra. The students also enjoyed such activities as a trip to Boeing in St. Louis, a college tour to Southern Illinois University Carbondale and a cultural and college trip to Alabama and Louisiana.

Students also attended a workshop on grief on Tuesday, June 27, taught by Diana Cuddeback, director of Heartlinks Grief Center in Belleville.

“Grief looks different on different people,” Cuddeback told the students. “Grief can be active, loud, private, tearful, ignored and more. Grief is an individual experience.”

“Grief is a universal experience. Anyone who loves, grieves,” shared Cuddeback.

UBSA’s summer program will conclude Thursday, July 6.

Upward Bound Scholars Academy (UBSA) is a TRIO program federally funded by the U.S. Department of Education. UBSA serves Collinsville High School students, ages 14-19, from low-income families and from families in which neither parent holds a bachelor’s degree. The goal of Upward Bound is to increase the rate at which participants complete secondary education and enroll in and graduate from institutions of postsecondary education.

COllege REadiness: Transition. Engage. Achieve. Mentor. (CORE TEAM) is home to several of the University’s premier college preparatory programs, including the SIUE Summer Success Program and the SIUE Pre-Collegiate Programs. These programs assist first-generation high school students, students from economically disadvantaged communities and new, first-time college students by providing comprehensive college preparatory and social development skills.  

Photos:
Diana Cuddeback, director of Heartlinks Grief Center in Belleville, talks to UBSA students about grief during a workshop on Tuesday, June 27.

Participating in a drawing exercises are USBA students Amari Edwards and Greg Wicks.