Anderson Oconee Pickens

Upward Bound Students Recognized for Academic Achievements

CONTACT: ELAINE SCOTT-MATTISON, 646-1590

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 7/30/2004
(By Lisa Garrett)

Tri-County Technical College's Upward Bound summer program is the first step in preparation for life's many challenges, the College's President Ronnie L. Booth told a group of students and parents at the 24th annual Upward Bound awards banquet.

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.

Although most won't serve on the front lines, as did the soldiers in World War II and other major wars that Dr. Booth referenced, he told the students that "you will each face your own personal D-Day, a day that defines you -- your Defining Day. This day also may play a role in redefining the life of your friends, family, the world. Will you be ready for that day?" he asked.

"Your experience this summer has been part of that preparation, but it cannot stop there. You must prepare physically, intellectually, socially and spiritually," said Dr. Booth.

Preparing yourself intellectually is imperative, he said. "You all know that you need to go to school beyond high school. That is a given. Every soldier is well trained to handle whatever crisis may present itself. Will you be prepared intellectually to handle the tasks presented to you? Intellectual rigor is important whether you are studying language, medicine or highly technical electronics," he said.

Dr. Booth mentioned the Tuskegee Airmen, who numbered 400 well-trained pilots who contributed significantly to the Allied success in World War II and flew more than 15,000 combat missions. "They did not just show up and expect to be successful. They underwent grueling physical and mental training before they were ready to face their defining day."

You also must know how to live and work with others, said Dr. Booth. "You must learn to live in context, to understand your connections, and therefore your responsibilities. You may not have to man a gun to fight off an enemy to save someone or pull a friend from the line of fire. However, the moment that defines your life may involve your standing for a significant cause, may involve engaging yourself deeply in someone else's life and pulling him or her to safety emotionally or financially or spiritually."

You must be prepared spiritually to face the challenges of life, he said. "I am fully convinced that neither you nor I will ever be fully prepared for any part of life, let alone the crisis points, without first having our spiritual house in order."

Lastly, you must be prepared at the core of your being to be courageous, he said. He reminded the crowd of Carl Brashear, the first black Master Diver in the U.S. Navy who persevered, and, despite losing a leg in a diving accident attained the status of Master Diver "through sheer courage and hard work. I hope you are prepared to exhibit the same courage as Carl Brashear, and many whom you know personally."

Approximately 50 high school students were recognized for their academic achievements at the awards banquet.

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):

-- Niesha Austin, a 2004 graduate of Pickens High School. She will be attending USC-Columbia in the fall.

-- Ashleigh Banks, a 2004 graduate of Seneca High School. She will be attending Tri-County Technical College in the fall.

-- Mario Bolden, a 2004 graduate of Palmetto High School. He will be attending Greenville Technical College in the fall.

-- Teona Chancler, a 2004 graduate of T.L. Hanna High School. She will be attending Tri-County Technical College in the fall.

-- Laquisha Chester, a 2004 graduate of T.L. Hanna High School. She will be attending USC-Columbia in the fall.

-- Jamyria Hallums, a 2004 graduate of Liberty High School. She will be attending Anderson College in the fall.

-- Terrance Hill, a 2004 graduate of Liberty High School. He will be attending Tri-County Technical College in the fall.

-- McKinney Holland, a 2004 graduate of Pickens High School. He will be attending Lander University in the fall.

-- Candice Hunter, a 2004 graduate of T.L. Hanna High School. She will be attending Charleston Southern University in the fall.

-- Tennille Martin, a 2004 graduate of Pendleton High School. She will be attending Winthrop University in the fall.

-- Mitch Morris, a 2004 graduate of Westside High School. He will be attending Coastal Carolina in the fall.

-- Corey Rice, a 2004 graduate of T.L. Hanna High School. He will be attending Lander University in the fall.

Jessica Scott, a 2004 graduate of Pendleton High School. She will be attending Claflin University in the fall.

Savannah Simpson, a 2004 graduate of Pendleton High School. She will be attending Coastal Carolina in the fall.

Matthew Wakefield, a 2004 graduate of Pickens High School. He will be attending Coastal Carolina in the fall.

Shayla Williams, a 2004 graduate of Pendleton High School. She will be attending Lander University in the fall.

Michael Wilson, a 2004 graduate of Seneca High School. He will be attending Morehouse College in the fall.

Most Improved Awards:

Most Improvement in English Award ­ Ashley Williams, of Pendleton.

Most Improvement in Mathematics Award-Markeshia Mitchell, of Anderson.

Most Improvement in Science Award ­ K'Nesha Everett, of Liberty.

Most Improved in Spanish Award- Klarissa Hunt, of Williamston.

Most Outstanding Awards:
Most Outstanding Achievement in English ­ Somer Page, of Anderson.

Most Outstanding Achievement in Math ­ Porsha Smith, of Liberty.

Most Outstanding Achievement in Science ­ Whitner Holliday, of Seneca.

Outstanding Achievement in Spanish ­ Courtney Hill, of Liberty.

SAT/ ACT Awards:
These are awarded to seniors who have scored above a 1,000 on the SAT or above a 20 on the ACT:

Jamyria Hallums, McKinney Holland and Matthew Wakefield.

Honor Roll Awards (One Semester)

Cervantez Glenn, Demetrius Green, Courtney Hill, Klarissa Hunt, Crystal Hoover, Brandy Moss, Latia Rice, Jessica Scott and Keljay Webb.

Honor Roll Awards (All Year)

Keaira Berry, Jasmin Carithers, LaQuisha Chester and Jessica Scott.

SGA- Student Government Association of Upward Bound

Terrance Hill, president
Latia Rice, vice president
Candice Hunter, secretary
Teona Chancler, treasurer

Scholar's Bowl Awards

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

Jessica Goldsmith, West-Oak High School
Klarissa Hunt, Palmetto High School
Casey Robinson, Easley High School
Heather Shaw, Crescent High School
Porsha Smith, Liberty High School
Keljay Webb, D.W. Daniel High School

Peer Mentors
Brandy Moss and Cervantez Glenn
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