For most students, school is out for the summer. However, for about 80 high schoolers from across Southwest Virginia, summer is a time to get an academic boost through Virginia Tech TRIO Programs’ Upward Bound program.

Upward Bound offers an intensive program that helps eligible high school students overcome social, academic, and cultural barriers to higher education through academic, cultural, and social support. Activities include one-on-one counseling and tutoring throughout the school year, local and regional field trips and college tours, and a unique residential summer program.

Most students stay on Virginia Tech’s Blacksburg campus for three weeks, living in residence halls, eating in on-campus dining centers, and attending classes. The experience gives them a taste of university life and, for many, the new experience of living away from home.

However, about 20 students stay on campus for six weeks through Unite — a nationwide supplemental program funded by an Army Educational Outreach Program grant over two years.

While Upward Bound requires students be of the first generation in their family to potentially attend college, meet income-eligibility requirements, or be considered at high risk of academic failure, Unite also requires that participants be from groups who are historically underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

“With the help of the Unite grant, we can open up new worlds of possibility for students and give them meaningful experiences in the STEM fields,” said Frances Clark, director of TRIO Programs, part of Outreach and International Affairs. “Hands-on learning opportunities allow the students to step into the role of an engineer, inventor, or scientist.”

All students take classes aligned with a college preparatory curriculum and designed to strengthen their academic skills. Unite students receive additional courses in architecture, computer science, and careers.

While Virginia Tech alumnus Robert Cobb, an associate professor at North Carolina A&T, teaches students to use architecture industry software such as SketchUP and Fusion360, instructor Stephen Franklin introduces them to Python coding language. The careers course, led by Clark, helps students explore their skills, interests, and other factors that may influence their career choices.

This year, Unite students will also get the opportunity to meet Virginia Tech faculty members, including Cal Ribbens, head of the Department of Computer Science.

Clark said expanding these types of opportunities for students from underserved or low-income homes helps build a future with a more diverse generation of innovators.

“The Unite program represents a crucial investment in the future,” she said. “Not only are STEM careers some of the most in-demand and highest-paying careers in the world, but STEM activities can help develop students’ critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity skills — all important for success in whatever field they choose.”

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