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Dressed in their best business casual, sitting on the edge of their seats and participating in a table drumroll, squeals of delight erupted as the winners were announced during the End of the Summer Showcase and Awards of the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Center’s Collinsville Upward Bound Math and Science (UBMS). 

The Showcase was held Thursday, July 22 in the Morris University Center’s Cougar Den. 

“You students have so much to be proud of,” UBMS Program Director Desiree Tyus told students and their guests. “This summer, we had a total of 45 participants this summer attend our weekly courses, electives, field trips, residential program and/or Summer Bridges pre-collegiate preparatory program. 

“I attribute our program’s success to the type of family culture we have developed between students, staff and their extended support systems. Through a close collaboration with Collinsville School District #10, our Upward Bound Math and Science TRIO program has served 64 students. Our students had an average grade point average of 3.5 this year, despite the instability that the COVID pandemic placed on them.”    

The Showcase began with selected students giving a recap of what was learned over the summer. Topics and activities included:

• English
• Math
• Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)
• French
• Science, Health Medicine (SHM)
• Technology, Engineering and Math (TEM-focused exploration)
• Electives: adulting 101, chess, mental health, UBMS TV production
• Departmental tours 

Of the many awards given at the Showcase, a few highlights included Outstanding Student recognition for freshman Kaylee Cooper, sophomore Jack Easley, junior Tremonte Dickerson, Jennifer Carrillo, and Outstanding residential spirit recognition for Reznor Hartmann.

“Our annual End of the Summer Showcase and Awards banquet provided a perfect opportunity for students to share what they accomplished with their peers, family and other stakeholders,” continued Tyus. “I am proud to say that 100% of our seniors have been accepted to college!” 

“As a first-generation student, I found the Upward Bound Math and Science program critical,” said Monserrat Munoz, a sophomore at Southern Illinois University Carbondale majoring in exercise science, whose parents were born in Mexico. Munoz, who participated in UBMS as a high school senior in 2020, worked as an administrative assistant this summer in the program. 

“The counselors really helped me learn about different colleges and what they offered,” Munoz continued. “By my working with the program this summer, I thought it would be a great opportunity for students to see someone who graduated from the program and is now in college.” 

“The program was enjoyable and exposed me to how life in college will be,” said Christian Smith, a junior at Collinsville High School. “It was a nice experience to stay in a residence hall on the SIUE campus, while in the program this summer.” Smith plans to major in mechanical engineering at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. 

Claudia De La Cruz, who has been a student in the program for two years and graduated from Collinsville High School in May, will attend SIUE in the fall and major in industrial engineering. “I didn’t know what I wanted to do before participating in the program,” she said. “They exposed us to so many different career and job options, and brought in biologists, doctors, nurses and speakers of all kinds.” 

“Today was incredible,” said Tarael Kee, assistant principal at Collinsville High School. “Our students learned critical things. They became acclimated to college, practiced math, science, English, foreign language, STEM and more over the summer. This type of support, guidance and benefits are immeasurable.” 

The SIUE Upward Bound Math & Science (UBMS) program helps youth prepare for higher education and serves students from Collinsville. Participants receive instruction in literature, advanced mathematics and science during the school day, homework assistance and hands-on STEM workshops twice a week after school, and cultural, career and college preparation on Saturdays. During the summer, students participate in a six-week residential program that allows participants to reside on Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s campus and undergo college preparedness. Services provided prepare students for successful high school completion and entrance into post-secondary programs. The program is designed to serve low-income and/or potential first-generation college students who are currently in grades 9-12. For more information about how you can get involved in our program, please visit us at collinsvilleubms.com.