Initiatives
Minnesota "I Have a Dream" Scholarship Program
Established in 1989 by Twin Cities Businessman Bill Lahr, the Minnesota "I Have Dream" Scholarship Program was inspired by a similar program begun in New York in 1983. Partnered with the University of Minnesota's TRiO Upward Bound, the Dream Scholarship is available to all Upward Bound students who meet specific academic and income guidelines.
The Dream Scholarship is unique in that the students receive scholarships based on their performance throughout high school. For each year that students meet the performance requirements, $1000 is escrowed for them up to a maximum of $4000 over four years in Upward Bound. Once they attend college, the students must again achieve specific academic guidelines in order to tap into the money they have earned during high school. If the guidelines are successfully met, the students are awarded a portion of their total scholarship at the completion of each college year.
MAEOPP Student Leadership Conference
(Mid-America Association of Educational
Opportunity Program Personnel)
Each fall, Upward Bound selects ten students who are among the top achievers and leaders among their Upward Bound peers and in high school. While academics are important, student capacity to develop leadership abilities is critical to success in higher education. Students will meet other TRiO students from a seven state region and participate in leadership development workshops and activities over a three-day period at The Abbey Resort, in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. In the past, students also had the opportunity to make contact with a contingent of similar students from other countries, in order to exchange experiences and leadership ideas. Upon their return, students will continue to be mentored and encouraged by Upward Bound staff to practice their leadership skills, at Upward Bound, in their high schools, and in their communities.
COE Student Leadership Conference
The Council for Opportunity in Education (COE) sponsors this annual conference in Washington, DC. The event is a six-day residential experience where students have the opportunity to participate in leadership-building activities and community service projects, meet with members of congress, and visit historical and cultural landmarks. Upward Bound elects and sends two students, usually 11th graders, who have exhibited overall high-performance and outstanding leadership qualities.
Outward Bound wilderness experience
Along with academic abilities, it is essential that Upward Bound students develop mature problem-solving strategies, communication and social skills, leadership, and self-sufficiency. Above all, they need to have confidence that they can face whatever life has to offer. The Outward Bound program (OB) provides a unique opportunity for students to develop that confidence through a rigorous, but supportive, wilderness program.
Outward Bound also emphasizes leadership, concern for others, and team building. Students who might not otherwise see themselves as leaders or as team players will realize their ability to develop in these areas. A common thread among all students’ comments is a sense of accomplishment and pride they feel after their OB experience. The Outward Bound experience encourages students to bond together, trust one another, and learn how to work as a team. Students learn about building community through teamwork, which is readily learned through first hand experience.
College tour
Prior to their senior year, students have the opportunity to explore a variety of college campuses during an annual 3-day summer tour. This trip gives students an opportunity to see colleges outside the Twin Cites and expand their college choice interests. In past years, students have visited Carleton College, St. Olaf College, Minnesota State University-Mankato, the College of St. Scholastica, Gustavus Adolphus College, the University of Minnesota, Duluth and the University of Wisconsin at River Falls. Students have the opportunity to meet with admissions counselors and current college students from each school in order to get first-hand information. At some campuses, students will stay in a dorm, eat in the dining hall, and participate in campus activities.
Revised November 2006