A Chicago Adventure for Ivy Tech Upward Bound’s Top Students

Upward Bound students and chaperones gather at “Cloud Gate” in Millennium Park during their Spring Break trip to Chicago. Photo providedUpward Bound students and chaperones gather at “Cloud Gate” in Millennium Park during their Spring Break trip to Chicago. Photo provided

By: Rebecca Parker—

Muncie, IN—This spring break, a group of 12 students from the Ivy Tech Community College Upward Bound program journeyed to Chicago to experience the best of what the city has to offer. While in the Windy City, students boarded the U505 submarine at the Museum of Science and Industry, watched Beluga whales leap from the water at Shedd Aquarium, observed the city skyline from above at Hancock 360, rode a Ferris wheel at Navy Pier, and dined on deep dish pizza at Gino’s.

Students visited Columbia College Chicago to learn more about higher education opportunities in the arts. They also visited Reverb, a major tech startup in Chicago that helps musicians buy, sell, and learn about music gear in a thriving online marketplace. This three-day, two-night experience was offered to students free of charge based on their overall academic performance, their Math & Science grades, and their attendance at Upward Bound homework help sessions and workshops.

Upward Bound is a Federal Program governed by the United States Department of Education. The goal of Upward Bound is to increase the rate at which eligible participants complete secondary education and enroll in and graduate from college. Upward Bound provides educational, social, and cultural experiences to these students in order to help them develop in character, scholarship, and leadership.

The Chicago trip, themed around STEM learning opportunities and based on Math/Science performance, was part of the program’s Computer Science focus for this project year. These students and others within our community are being offered exciting learning opportunities and this summer, Upward Bound will be partnering with Ball State’s Center for Information and Communication Sciences (CICS), and its Center for Emerging Media, Design, and Development (EMDD) to provide two exciting tech class choices for the six-week Summer Academy: UX Design and Development and Transmedia Storytelling.

To learn more about the Upward Bound program, visit their website (www.upwardboundivy.com) or find them on Facebook or Instagram as @upwardboundivy. The program currently has five spots open for current Muncie Central High School students. Interested students and their families should contact Director Rebecca Parker at rparker113@ivytech.edu.

 

Rebecca Parker is Director of Upward Bound, Ivy Tech Community College of Muncie.