Jessica Coulter

Class of '98
Momence High School

"Upward Bound reinforced the importance of my academic abilities and interests at an age when I needed to understand the direct impact that they would have on my future educational and career options. The weekly tutorials and summer sessions are examples of the many resources that afforded me the opportunity to further examine and achieve my goals while providing valued time with my peers that I still hold in fond memory. After Upward Bound, I went on to graduate from Saint Mary's College in 2002 with a bachelor's degree in Science. I currently work in a hospital emergency department and hope to attend medical school in the near future."

AnaMaria Berrones

Momence High School
Class of 2000
"Upward Bound prepared me for the transition to college life. As a freshman, I wasn't scared about moving into a residence hall because I had already been away from home for three summers. Currently, I attend NIU with a major in Elementary Education and a minor in Spanish."

Danielle Sandness

Kankakee High School
Class of '01

"Upward Bound has a wonderful staff and it's great to know that they are always willing to lend a helping hand. After high school, I attended NIU in Dekalb and now attend Western Illinois University."

Crystal Butler

Kankakee High School
Class of '03

"Upward Bound is a great program. I learned so much, not only academically but also life lessons. I would recommend it to anyone. Currently I attend Illinois State University and am majoring in Psychology."

Zachary Sargent

Kankakee High School
Class of '01

"Great program — the people really enjoy working with you and doing whatever they can to help you succeed. Listen to Mr. Braun, Ms. Zunke and Mr. Musick — they know what they're talking about. I plan on graduating in the fall of '05 from Illinois State University. I'd like to work in sports media, perhaps production and be an "on-air" talent."

Elizabeth Sutton

St. Anne Community High School
Class or '99

"I attended Kankakee Community College and will be graduating in 2004 with my Associate of Arts in Computer Information Systems. One of my favorite quotes is 'Things may seem hard now but keep a focused mind, which is sometimes hard, and all the struggle will pay off in the end'."

Carpi Nicole Smith

Momence High School
Class of '01

"Upward Bound has been a very rewarding experience for me. It has prepared me for decisions in my education, career and the future. I currently attend Northern Illinois University, majoring in Community Health Administation. I am also a TRiO student and am active in many campus organizations and activities."

Josephine Robinson

St. Anne Community High School
Class of '99

"The KCC Upward Bound program was very beneficial to me and other students that went through the program. It gave me an opportunity to experience college, living on campus and taking classes as a Bridge student. I feel that it is a great opportunity to help make the transition from high school to college. Currently I am a graduate student at Eastern Illinois University in Family Consumer Science."

Tammy Wright

Momence High School
Class of '01

"Upward Bound is an excellent program. The coordinators (Mr. Braun, Ms. Zunke and Mr. Musick) are wonderful people to know. They try hard to get their students into college and they tend to check up on you to make sure that you are staying on the right track for your career."