The Upward Bound program at Southern Arkansas University will be hosting a senior recognition and awards ceremony at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 4, 2013, at Harton Theatre.
A total of 33 graduates will be recognized, and they represent 11 different high schools from across southwest Arkansas. For U.B. I, Cory Walker from Magnolia High earned valedictorian honors, and Skyler Jones from Magnolia High is the salutatorian. For U.B. II, Morgan Warren from Arkansas High in Texarkana has earned valedictorian honors, and Jasmine King from Blevins High is the salutatorian. The other graduates include:
Arkansas High: Ebony Mosley, Dominique Price; Blevins High: Kristen Pruitt; Bradley High: Jarek Govan; El Dorado High: Rachel Arnold; Emerson High: Leondra Robinson; Hope High: Torre’ Greene (U.B. II honor graduate), Alex Washington, and Corinna Weston; Lafayette High: Kandace Jackson and Destiny Wesson; Magnolia High: Jo’Quari Beasley, LeSabre Dansby, Waltdrikus Dunn, Na’Triell Gantt, Camella Garland, Earnessa Hildreth, Aaliyah Rose, Lorinza Rose, (U.B. I honor graduate), TaVarius Strickland, and Desiree’ Williams (U.B. I honor graduate); Nevada High: Kaitlan Malone; Stephens High: Noah Banks, (U.B. I honor graduate), Royalty Green, Carlos Murray, and Charles Washington; Taylor High: Cody Bonner, JoAnna Marsh, and Destiny Wright.
The guest speaker will be Eunice E. Walker, director of Student Support Services and executive TRiO director at SAU. She has worked at SAU for more than 20. Before working at the collegiate level, she was an English teacher at Bradley High School for nine years.
Walker is an active member at Trinity Christian Methodist Church in Magnolia, where she is Director of the Board of Christian Education and a member of the Stewardess and Usher Boards. She serves on several boards in her community: Columbia County NAACP, Columbia County Community Foundation, South Arkansas Women’s Network, and Columbia County Youth Advisory Council. In 2006, she received the Humanitarian of the Year Award from the Columbia County Association of the NAACP. Professionally, she is a member of the Arkansas Association of Student Assistance Programs and the Southwest Association of Student Assistance Programs.
The SAU Upward Bound program has been in existence for more than 47 years and was one of the first U.B. programs in the nation. It is currently funded to serve 180 southwest Arkansas high school students.
The program is designed to motivate these students to improve their grades in high school so each can go on to earn a college degree within six years after being admitted into college. This is accomplished by providing cultural and academic activities as well as personal attention.
Students are eligible to participate if they meet the following criteria: they are entering the 9th grade, but have not completed the 10th grade; are at least 14 years old, but not older than 17; neither parent has earned a four-year college degree; family income represents economic need; and they have potential for success in post-secondary education.
For more information on SAU’s Upward Bound program or on Saturday’s graduation ceremony, please call 870-235-4160 or visit the SAU Upward Bound website.