For many first-generation [first in their family to attend college] and low-income students, the path to college can feel overwhelming due to limited access to college resources, academic support and financial stability. Upward Bound programs across the United States aim to overcome these obstacles through tutoring, mentorship and college and career exploration.
“It [Upward Bound] helped me a lot because I know what colleges to attend, and the personal finance class they offered helped me manage my money better and taught me how to invest,” senior Jose Garcia said.
Upward Bound, a federally funded pre-college program, provides first-generation student attendees with opportunities to attend college through campus visits and academic support.
The program also provides low-income families across the U.S. with college and career readiness tools to ensure their children stay academically successful and financially responsible. Western Michigan University [WMU] has supported the program since its re-establishment within the college’s pre-college programming in 2007, as reported by Kayla Miller for MLive.
“It’s meant to empower low-income students to achieve their full potential and make sure that the quality of education is available to students,” said WMU’s Upward Bound Director Gustavo Echavarria.
To be eligible for the program, students must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents and have a desire to pursue a higher education. They also have to attend KPS schools and commit to the program until the end of high school. Parents must provide tax forms and other financial documents to determine their student’s eligibility for Upward Bound’s financial support.
Gracie Coston, the current Upward Bound Assistant Director, wishes she had known about the opportunities available for college preparation as a first-generation student and believes that the program provides the tools needed to make preparation easier.
“As a first-generation low-income student myself, I know the difficulties that these students can face trying to do better and find success in their lives,” Coston said. “I believe in the opportunities the program offers, and I wish there would’ve been something like that for me when I was finishing up school and going to college because it would’ve been easier to navigate the things you have to navigate in college and personal life.”
In addition to academic tutoring, the program also provides social and emotional wellness resources and actively receives feedback from both parents and students to enhance its effectiveness.
Upward Bound allows KPS freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors to visit colleges across the U.S., helping them explore different majors, try out extracurricular activities and gain valuable real-world experiences away from home. The program funds these trips and provides free transportation, which take place during the school day at no cost for students.
One college visit took place on Jan. 15, 2025, when Loy Norrix and Kalamazoo Central students traveled to the Dowagiac campus of Southwestern Michigan College. During their visit, students learned about campus life and explored degrees offered at various colleges in Michigan. Garcia, who had previously attended the visit last year, is now considering applying to SMC based on his experience.
“I was interested in working in the automotive room because I figured that automotive class was fun at Norrix,” Garcia said. “They [SMC] have a good automotive program, and I believe SMC can help me find other career paths and figure out what I want to achieve.”
Students can also enroll in Upward Bound’s six-week summer camp at WMU, where they receive support in core subjects based on their future grade level. Between late June and early August, students can sign up to go on in-state and out-of-state college trips.
Last year, students from Upward Bound went on a summer trip to Nashville, Tennessee, which gave junior Juan Ortiz-Ponce information about historically Black colleges and Tennessee’s diverse culture and community.
“Going to Nashville was really nice because all of my friends are used to looking at colleges in Michigan, and it was nice to see that there are more colleges out there,” Ortiz-Ponce said. “I really liked Belmont University because I love how modern and clean it was.”
From Apr. 24 to 26, 2025, Upward Bound will take their seniors on a trip to Chicago to explore different out-of-state colleges, with hopes of continuing to assist low-income students. Seniors may also attend college trips after completing the program’s summer camp.
For students looking for extra academic support, Upward Bound also offers tutoring from WMU students in the Farnsworth Library at LN after school on Mondays and Wednesdays from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. They can also see Coston during all three lunches in the cafeteria from 9:56 to 11:46 a.m. or in the library during tutoring to sign up for or learn more about the program. Students may also scan the QR code on the Upward Bound flyer.
To stay updated on upcoming trips, program events and opportunities, students can visit WMU’s Upward Bound website or contact Gustavo Echavarria or Gracie Coston by phone or email.
Gustavo Echavarria
Office number: (269) 387-2875
Email: [email protected]
Gracie Coston
Office number: (269) 387-2723
Email: [email protected]
