SSC Upward Bound Students Experience Summer of Learning and Exploration |

_{SSC Upward Bound students pose for a photo inside the Dallas Cowboys locker room at AT&T Stadium during their “Big Trip” to Dallas. The group toured the stadium as part of a week filled with college visits and cultural experiences.}

Seminole State College’s Upward Bound federal grant program hosted a series of summer camps and trips for nearly 160 area high school students, offering academic enrichment, college readiness and cultural experiences.

Approximately 125 students who recently completed their 9th through 11th grade years participated in a residential camp on the SSC campus from May 27 to June 26. These students attend 20 partnering high schools, including Bowlegs, Butner, Earlsboro, Holdenville, Graham-Dustin, Macomb, Maud, New Lima, Okemah, Paden, Seminole, Shawnee, Strother, Stroud, Tecumseh, Varnum, Weleetka, Wetumka and Wewoka.

In this photo, Graduated seniors from SSC’s Upward Bound Bridge program stand outside the Air Force Armament Museum in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. The museum visit was one of several educational stops during their end-of-summer trip to prepare for college and future careers — _{Graduated seniors from SSC’s Upward Bound Bridge program stand outside the Air Force Armament Museum in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. The museum visit was one of several educational stops during their end-of-summer trip to prepare for college and future careers.}

During the camp, students attended core academic classes designed to prepare them for the upcoming school year and also took part in weekly elective courses for fun and personal growth. The program also offered weekly educational and cultural field trips, including visits to the University of Oklahoma and East Central University, the Chickasaw Cultural Center, the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum, and the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma. Students also enjoyed a night out at an OKC Comets soccer game.

The camp concluded with a “Big Trip” to Dallas, Texas, where students toured the University of North Texas and explored major cultural institutions such as the Perot Museum of Nature and Science, the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum, and the Dallas World Aquarium. They also visited AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys, before attending a Texas Rangers baseball game.

In addition, 31 graduated seniors participated in the Upward Bound “Bridge” program. These students completed two college courses and held work-study positions on campus and in the Seminole community to prepare for their transition to higher education and future careers.

Their summer concluded with a trip to Fort Walton Beach, Florida. During their visit, they toured Northwest Florida State College and the University of West Florida – Emerald Coast Campus. The students also visited the Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park, the Air Force Armament Museum and attended a careers in hospitality presentation.

Upward Bound is a program 100% funded by the U.S. Department of Education, providing services at no cost to participants that support academic success and postsecondary enrollment.