Patrick Henry Community College’s (PHCC) Upward Bound and Upward Bound Math & Science programs have much to celebrate.
Four of the programs’ seniors won the top prizes of the Virginia Association of Education Opportunity Program Personnel (VAEOPP) scholarship competition. VAEOPP is part of an outreach program designed to assist students’ progress to higher education. Each year the program hosts a scholarship competition where students in programs like Upward Bound and Upward Bound Math & Science from around the state compete for awards. Winners receive a prize of $500 and the highest scoring applicant gets double the money.
This year’s Upward Bound winner was Caillie Smith, of Martinsville. Smith recently graduated from Magna Vista High School and PHCC with an Associate of General Studies. She will be attending UVA in the fall. The UBMS winner was Amber Mize of Patrick Springs. Mize is a recent graduate from Patrick County High School [PCHS] and was accepted into PHCC’s nursing program for fall 2020. Smith and Mize tied for the highest-scoring applications and were awarded an additional $500.
PHCC UB and UBMS students Reagan Lawson, of Claudville, and Dorian Green, of Axton, also swept the two available awards for the Ollie Tolliver Legacy Scholarship. These scholarships go to the highest scoring applications that did not win in their respective category. Lawson recently graduated from PCHS and PHCC with an Associate in General Studies. She will be attending Ferrum College in the fall. Green is a recent graduate of Magna Vista High School and PHCC with an Associate of Arts and Sciences. Green will be attending Hampden-Sydney in the fall.
“When the announcement came out, I literally jumped for joy. I’ve been working with PHCC Upward Bound since 2012 and this is the first time I’ve ever seen a college’s TRiO programs win in so many categories for the VAEOPP scholarship. Our area’s students are highly motivated, hardworking, and community-minded, and I believe they are very deserving of these awards. I couldn’t be more proud of their accomplishments.” said Upward Bound Assistant Coordinator Lindsey Bryant.
Upward Bound and Upward Bound Math & Science are funded through the United States Department of Education as part of the TRiO programs. TRiO includes eight different federal outreach and student service programs designed to identify and provide services for students who are low-income, first-generation, and individuals with disabilities. The purpose of these programs is to assist students with their progression through the academic pipeline, from middle school to post-baccalaureate degrees. To date, there are nearly 2,900 funded projects nationwide. Upward Bound and Upward Bound Math & Science serve 135 students at Bassett, Patrick County, Martinsville, and Magna Vista High Schools. For more information on Patrick Henry Community College’s Upward Bound and Upward Bound Math & Science programs, contact upwardbound@patrickhenry.edu.
