LHU Upward Bound students pause during a day of service in downtown Lock Haven. L to R: Rachel Bushor, Sarah Stanley, Lucio Perez, Alissa Goodreau, Theresa Donley, Thane Geyer.

LOCK HAVEN, Pa. - For 25 area high school students, this summer has provided a taste of college life. Lock Haven University once again hosted its residential summer Upward Bound Program, and students from Central Mountain High School, Bucktail High School, Jersey Shore Area High School and Williamsport Area High School took advantage of the opportunity to be live on campus for close to six weeks and experience what college life is all about.

“Our students learn about themselves while they learn about higher education and how to pursue a degree,” said Carroll Rhodes, LHU Upward Bound director. “LHU allows high school students to experience campus life with access to facilities while being closely supervised.”

Academics, real-life topics in seminars, and cultural and recreational activities occupy a full daily schedule until the weekly Friday field trips. This year they included a campus visit to Penn State and participation in a college fair where 33 colleges and universities were present, a visit to Bald Eagle State Park and a Safe Angler Program, and campus visits to the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown and Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania.

“This summer, we had eight Bridge students and 17 underclassmen,” said Rhodes. “The Bridge students were enrolled in college classes for credit. The underclassmen had academic enrichment classes including reading, writing, math, study skills, Russian and science. Other activities include horseback riding, movies, swimming, art, Millbrook Playhouse and the Summer Concert series,” Rhodes added.

Community service is also an important part of the Upward Bound experience. The Bridge students completed their community service by spending a day working in downtown Lock Haven, cleaning up the Water Street parking lot and the Grove Street sidewalk, watering the planters that line Main Street and cleaning up the vacant store fronts. The underclassmen completed training as Peer Advocates for HIV/AIDS.

What’s next for these students? “Among the Bridge students, four will attend LHU, one will attend South Hills School of Business and Technology, one will attend Mansfield University of Pennsylvania, and two will attend Susquehanna University,” said Rhodes. The others will head back to their high schools with increased self-confidence and greater awareness of their potential. “It can be amazing,” said Rhodes, “to see timid high school sophomores become confident goal-seekers.”

Upward Bound is funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education, in the amount of $250,000. It is supported by additional funding and services from Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania, local school districts, the Lock Haven University Foundation and the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

For more information on the LHU Upward Bound program and eligibility requirements, contact Carroll Rhodes at (570) 484-3054 or crhodes@lhup.edu.