Photo courtesy of: Patton College of EducationTwo teams of participants had to work together to race to the finish line during an activity at OHIO’s Outdoor Pursuits Challenge Course.
When The Patton College of Education learned it would lose federal funding for Upward Bound, which had served Southeast Ohio since 1967, it didn’t panic. It improvised.
The result was College Bound, which mirrors the goals of Upward Bound by providing skills and support services to high school students who are low-income and/or potential first-generation college students.
While College Bound intends to be a year-round program, it began with a weeklong summer program July 23-27. The purpose of the program was to cultivate resilience, confidence, and preparation for a healthy and successful transition from high school to a postsecondary institution.
Nine students from Athens, Vinton, and Hocking Counties participated in the program. All were entering their junior or senior year of high school.
“I couldn't have been more pleased with the inaugural summer College Bound and the itinerary we developed for the participants,” said Coleen Dietsch-Krubl, College Bound project manager. “We were able to provide these rising high school juniors and seniors with a wide-ranging yet cohesive week of activities that deepened their understanding of how to succeed as a student both in and out of the classroom.”
The week was full of activities. Participants spent a day at Ohio University’s Outdoor Pursuits Challenge Course, an adventure recreation department within Student Affairs. In addition to zip-lining, the group experienced personal-development activities and learned to overcome challenges through teamwork and creativity. Attendees also spent an afternoon at Passion Works Studio, where they helped create giant papier mâché pawpaws for the upcoming Pawpaw Festival in September.
Participants also met with a panel of OHIO resource experts who were also all first-generation college students, including senior education major Asiah Berry and senior specialized studies major Donte Brown. Advisors Milan Thomas and Ben Forche also served on the panel, as did Amber Brookins, who works in financial aid, and Angela Ash, an OHIO First Scholars member.
Participants asked the panel questions about admissions, financial aid, academic advising, communicating with professors, scheduling classes, and working while going to school, among other topics. The panel discussion was slated to last 75 minutes; students were so engaged, however, that it ran an hour past its allotted time.
“All of our presenters and instructors did a fabulous job of teaching and facilitating activities in ways that really engaged our learners,” said Dietsch-Krubl.
Funding for College Bound was provided by the President’s Office and The Patton College Dean's Office. Each contributed $50,000 for the 2018-19 program year.
First-generation students comprise a large portion of the incoming freshman class – approximately 33 percent on the Athens campus and upwards of 51-58 percent on OHIO’s regional campuses.
The Patton College hired Dietsch-Krubl in May to serve as College Bound project manager. She previously worked for the Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs, where she was a senior project manager and most recently worked on the Partnership for Smoke Free Families Community Saturation project, which was funded by the Ohio Department of Health.
“I am excited for this role and couldn’t be happier with how our inaugural program went,” said Dietsch-Krubl. “I’m already looking forward to next year.”
Photo courtesy of: Patton College of EducationAs part of a service-learning activity at Passion Works, College Bound students, including (l-r) Jadelyn Althouse, Rayne-Anne Kahler, and Tyler Harber, worked with papier mâché.
Photo courtesy of: Patton College of EducationAbby Bakies (l) and Gracie Hill (r) show off their giant papier mâché pawpaws, which will be featured in the upcoming Pawpaw Festival in September.