Damian made new friends and found a new perspective in the Big Apple, realizing that she had the grades and ability to attend a four-year nursing program. Her Upward Bound advisor, Billi Hutchings, helped her find a program in Roanoke so she wouldn’t need to leave home. But Damian still wondered what it would be like to live on a major college campus. Summer Start offered her the opportunity to find out — for free — while also earning college credits.
“We pay tuition, room and board, books, and even provide laundry money and supplies to Upward Bound students who want to take part in the program,” said Jazmin Montaño Aguilar, TRIO’s associate director for Upward Bound.
The students must meet GPA requirements, and they must be enrolled in a higher education program for the fall.
“Summer Start is a great firsthand look into college. We try to take our students on…