Hard Work Pays Off ! 38th Annual Achievement and Closing Ceremony Sunday April 27, 2014 6:00 PM Stern Center Ballroom 71 George Street Charleston SC 29424 "The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary” - Vince Lombardi, Hall of Fame Football Coach The Upward Bound Program, sponsored by the College of Charleston since 1975, is a college preparatory program designed to generate in its participants the skills and motivation necessary for success in education beyond high school. Upward Bound provides special academic and cultural opportunities to students who have expressed an interest in pursuing a post-secondary education and who have demonstrated the potential to succeed in post-secondary education. ____________________________________________________ Upward Bound students learn how to challenge themselves to better than they think they can, to set goals they can achieve and how to go after them so that they aren’t satisfied with “just good enough.” Upward Bounders learn how to use their resources to recognize and make the most of opportunities so that the work they put in pays off and they can grow from each experience. Congratulations, graduates. Be proud. This is just the Beginning. Our Keynote Speaker Selena Blair is currently the Director of Opportunity Network, a TRIO Student Support Services Program, at the University of South Carolina Upstate. After graduating Valedictorian of Kingstree Senior High School, Selena went on to obtain her Bachelor of Social Work degree from Limestone College and Master of Arts in Counseling from Webster University. From her humble beginnings as an administrative assistant at a community college, Selena’s passion for assisting low-income, first generation college students, students with disabilities, and working adults has always been prevalent. She is a true believer in the saying, “With hard work and determination, anything is possible.” For the past decade, she has garnered the respect of her peers by working to remove barriers faced by individuals like herself and has made numerous trips to Capitol Hill to advocate for increased funding and policy revisions to better serve disadvantaged students. In addition to being a wife and mother of three daughters – ages 16, 14, and 5, Mrs. Blair serves in various capacities on the state, regional, and national levels of the TRIO community, at New Hope Christian Church and within the Spartanburg Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. She is in the process of working to publish her first book and establishing a non-profit organization aimed at assisting adolescent girls with recognizing their potential and becoming the best they can be while embracing her personal mantra, “Failure is not an option.” 2013-2014 Upward Bound Participants Nigeria Alston Tamija Hampton Eryn Smalls Kenya Bracey Nicholas Hannah Jalai Smalls Antonio Brown Zoey Henderson Alexsys Smith Daquan Brown Miracle Hutchinson Valaiyya Smith-Rivers Destiny Brown Tabrieal Jones Briana Stroud Diaje Brown Adaijha Kwot Egypt Stroud Khyla Brown Elkanah Ladia Terrance Taylor Christopher Burch Pablo Leyva Paul Thieman Michael Burns London Mack Terrence Thurman Sasha Castro Eldrick McLean Desmond Triplett Kevius Coaxum Richard McNeil Destiny Triplett LeDejah Coaxum Ashley Miller Leah Turner Adrienne J. Daniel Chelsea Moultrie Quy-Asia Walker James Daniel, Jr. Deja Patten Miracle Washington Jarrell Davis Christian Phillips Taylor Watts Kyro Davis Tiffany Phillips Tyla Watts Natrese Dorsey Anitra Pierce Jasmine White Peyton Edwards Raquel Pringle Jonah White Bria Ford Kendall Prioleau Kierra White Rosellar “RJ” Garcia Jr. Taylor Prioleau Baridapdoo Wiwuga Jordan Geddis Ta’Myiah Reed Margaret Wiwuga Kayla Glover Shawna Ross NekaBari Wiwuga T’Zhean Godfrey Allen Rouse Shaniyah Wrighton Brittany Grant Ala Saadeh Kimberlin Green Jazmine Scott T’Kya Green Richard Simmons Kenya Bracey, Burke High School. Kenya is the Valedictorian at Burke and will be attending Clemson University to pursue a degree in Accounting. She has participated in Skills USA, Guidance Advisory Board, Church Praise And Worship Team, Teacher Cadet, and Pal- metto Girls State. She is the recipient of Comcast Leaders and Achievers Scholarship and Clemson Scholars Award. Antonio Brown, North Charleston High School Khyla Brown, West Ashley High School: Khyla will be attending South Carolina State University . She is on the track team, plans to major Fashion Design and loves photography. Christopher Burch, St. Johns High School: Christopher is the Valedictorian at St. Johns and will be attending Clemson University to pursue a degree in Design Engineering. He has been involved in Communities in Schools, Mayors Youth Commission, School Improvement Council, and Kiawah-Seabrook Exchange Club. He has been an Exchange Club Student of the Month AND Student of the Year, and is receiving scholarship awards from The Daughters of St. Andrews Chapter of Order of Eastern Stars as well as Clemson University. Adrienne Juliette Daniel, West Ashley High School. Juliette will be attending College of Charleston to pursue a degree in Chemistry. She has been involved in Interact Club, Student Council, Prom Committee, Robotics Club, Varsity Cheerleading, Varsity Golf, Delta Gems, and of course Upward Bound. She will be receiving the South Carolina Life Scholarship. Jarrell Davis, Burke High School. Jarrell will be attending Charleston Southern University to pursue a major in Mass Communication with a minor in Digital Arts and Design. He intends to have career in journalism, film writing, and movie animation. He has participated in basketball and numerous Male Empowerment summits and conferences. Jarrell is the recipient of the “Young Man in the Gap” award from Church of Christ and is the lead writer of Updates for Ashley City. He won 1st place in the regional Charting the Course for Next Century poetry contest. Kyro Davis, West Ashley High School. Kyro will be attending Francis Marion University pursue a degree in Nursing and her goal is to become a trauma nurse. She has participated in ROTC, SADD Club and Science Club. Peyton Edwards, West Ashley High School . Peyton will be attending Claflin University to pursue a degree in Nursing. She has been involved in Band and Student Council; she also has participated in MUSC volunteer program for two summers and the MUSC and the MUSC pre-nursing program. Jordan Geddis, St. Johns High School. Jordan will be attending Claflin University to pursue a degree in Mass Communications. His plan is to become a sports broadcaster. He plays basketball, soccer, and football. He has participated in Teen Health Leadership and Wise Guys Club. Jordan is the recipient of Church of our Savior scholarship and Haut Gap Class of 1970 scholarship. T’kya Green, Goose Creek High School: T’Kya will be attending Claflin University to pursue a degree and career in Broadcast Journalism. She has participated in Spanish Club, Teacher Cadet, BCA Voice and the Sound and Media Team. Miracle Hutchinson, Goose Creek High School: Miracle will be attending Lander University to earn her degree in Chemical Engineering. She has been involved in JROTC, soccer, Teen Lead, Youth Court, Chess Club, Spanish Club and Track and Field. Tabrieal Jones, Goose Creek High School: Tabrieal will be joining the Army and will also pursue a degree in Medicine or Pharmacy; her ultimate goal is to become a pharmacist. She has been the manager of the football team, was in Student Council, Praise Dance and was a mentor at Sedgefield Middle School. Anitra Pierce, West Ashley High School. Anitra has participated in track and field and will be attending Coastal Carolina University. She plans to become a Physical Therapist. Richard Simmons, West Ashley High School: Richard is planning on enlisting and taking classes in the Air Force; he plans on focusing on Business and Technology and intends on being an Airplane Mechanic. Jalai Smalls, West Ashley High School : Jalai will be attending Greenville Technical College to pursue a degree in Biology and ultimately become a Physician’s Assistant. She has participated in ROTC, Softball and Band. Briana Stroud, Ashley Ridge High School (originally Burke): Briana will be attending Johnson and Wales Uni- versity in Charlotte, NC to pursue her degree in Baking and Pastry Arts and Food Service Management. Her goal is to become a pasty chef. She has been inducted into Na- tional Honor Society and the National Society of High School Scholars. She is an Honor Graduate as well as being a National Society of High School Scholars Ambassador. Miracle Washington, North Charleston High School : Miracle will be attending Trident Technical College to pursue a degree in Biology . She has held various after school jobs, volunteers in different capacities and enjoys learning the culinary arts. She has also partici- pated in the Teach the Need Program and been on A/B Honor Roll. She was named “Most likely to stress over grades.” Jasmine Monet White, West Ashley High School: Jasmine’s goal is to go into the US military and is still considering her post-secondary education path to support that goal. She enjoys volunteering with kids and has participated in JROTC. Margaret Wiwuga, Fort Dorchester High School (originally Burke, then North Charleston High): Margaret will be attending the University of Virginia. She is within the top 5% of her class of 422 students and was originally valedictorian at the previous two schools she attended. Her goal is ultimately to pursue a degree and a career in medicine. She has