Anderson Oconee Pickens

Upward Bound Bridges the Gap Between Secondary School, College

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 7/29/2005
CONTACT: ELAINE SCOTT-MATTISON, 646-1590
(By Lisa Garrett)

PENDLETON --- "You make a living by what you receive in this world, but you make a life by what you give," Anderson County Council Chair Gracie Floyd told a group of students and parents in her remarks at Tri-County Technical College's 25th annual Upward Bound Awards Banquet.

Mrs. Floyd is a veteran Anderson County educator and counselor and before her retirement, served as the director of the Even Start Parenting Program. She was the keynote speaker at the annual awards banquet where high school students were recognized for their academic achievements.

Upward Bound is designed to help high school students bridge the gap between secondary school and college and to provide them with financial and academic resources to prepare for postsecondary education. The Upward Bound project, sponsored by Tri-County, serves 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th graders from Anderson, Oconee and Pickens counties and provides high school students with services year-round through its academic and summer bridge components.

Most of this year’s Upward Bound graduating seniors had been in the program for four years, beginning in the ninth grade. This group’s dedication translates into 32 Saturdays filled with academic instruction in core curriculum classes and more academics, recreational and cultural activities during a six-week summer component at Clemson University.

At the banquet, students received plaques for outstanding achievement and most improvement in English, math, science, and Spanish.

Listing of awards given at banquet:

Outstanding Academic Achiever Bridge Component Awards (students taking University Transfer classes):

-- Rashun Brown, a 2005 graduate of Easley High School. He will be attending Allen University in the fall.

-- Brittany Brownlee, a 2005 graduate of T.L. Hanna High School. She will be attending Tri-County Technical College in the fall.

-- Cervantez Glenn, a 2005 graduate of T.L. Hanna High School. He will be attending South Carolina State in the fall.

-- Jessica Goldsmith, a 2005 graduate of West-Oak High School. She will be attending Tri-County Technical College in the fall.

-- Jenna Hamrick, a 2005 graduate of Liberty High School. She will be attending Clemson University in the fall.

-- Rayford Hunter, a 2005 graduate of Belton-Honea Path High School. He will be attending Tri-County Technical College in the fall.

-- Latia Rice, a 2005 graduate of T.L. Hanna High School. She will be attending Lander University in the fall.

-- Teesha Truesdale, a 2005 graduate of Westside High School. She will be attending Lander University in the fall.

Most Improved Awards:

Most Improved in English Award – Duvall Young, of Clemson

Most Improved in Mathematics Award—Markeshia Mitchell, of Anderson.

Most Improved in Science Award – Sasha Martin, of Anderson.

Most Improved in Spanish Award— Shanice Mayes, of Seneca.

Most Outstanding Awards:

Most Outstanding Achievement in English – Samantha Hunter, of.Easley.

Most Outstanding Achievement in Math – Porsha Smith, of Liberty.

Most Outstanding Achievement in Science – Brandy Moss, of Westminster.

Most Outstanding Achievement in Spanish – Nastasha Earle, of Seneca.

SAT Awards:

These are awarded to seniors who have scored above a 1,000 on the SAT

Jenna Hamrick, Rashun Brown, Cervantez Glenn and Rayford Hunter

Honor Roll Awards (One Semester)

Markessce Craft, Latia Rice, Teesha Truesdale, Klarissa Hunt and Markeshia Mitchell.

Honor Roll Awards (All Year)

Shanice Mayes, Brandy Moss and Porsha Smith

SGA- Student Government Association of Upward Bound

Cervantez Glenn, president
Michael Baker, vice president
Porsha Smith, secretary
Keljay Webb, treasurer

Scholar's Bowl Awards

Serving on Tri-County’s academic team are the following students:

Porsha Smith, Liberty High School
Samantha Hunter, Easley High School
Brandy Moss, West-Oak High School
Courtney Hill, Liberty High School
Keljay Webb, D.W. Daniel High School
Emmanuel Wright, T.L. High School
Michael Baker, Westside High School
Lamar Thomas, Seneca High School