UB Chronicle

The Upward Bound Programs at Morehead State University

October 2024 Volume 4 Issue 2

Types of Financial Aid: Loans, Grants, and Work-Study Programs

Taken from studentaid.gov

Financial aid is money to help pay for college or career school. Grants, work-study, loans, and scholarships help make college or career school affordable.

Check out this video to learn about federal grants, loans, and work-study jobs and how they can help fund your education.

Grants

A grant is a form of financial aid that doesn’t have to be repaid (unless, for example, you withdraw from school and owe a refund, or you receive a TEACH Grant and don’t complete your service obligation). A variety of federal grants are available, including:

Pell Grants,
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG),
Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grants, and
Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants.

Scholarships

Many nonprofit and private organizations offer scholarships to help students pay for college or career school. This type of free money, which is sometimes based on academic merit, talent, or a particular area of study, can make a real difference in helping you manage your education expenses.

Learn About Scholarships

Work-Study Jobs

The Federal Work-Study Program allows you to earn money to pay for school by working part-time. You’ll earn at least the current federal minimum wage. However, you may earn more depending on the type of work you do and the skills required for the position. Your total work-study award depends on

when you apply,
your level of financial need, and
your school’s funding level.

Learn About Work-Study

Loans

A loan is money you borrow and must pay back with interest. If you apply for financial aid, you may be offered loans as part of your school’s financial aid offer. When you receive a student loan, you are borrowing money to attend a college or career school. You must repay the loan as well as interest that accrues. It is important to understand your repayment options so you can successfully repay your loan.

Learn About Loans

Aid for Specific Groups

Military Families

There are special aid programs or additional aid eligibility for serving in the military or for being the spouse or child of a veteran.

Learn About Aid for Military Families

International Study

Federal student aid may be available for studying at a school outside the United States, whether you’re studying abroad or getting your degree from an international school.

Learn About Aid for International Study

Sophomore Trip Update

Sophomores going on the trip on October 25th and 26th will be receiving a packet in the mail in the next couple of weeks with more information about the trip to Louisville.

Students will be attending a college visit at the University of Louisville as well as attending the Pumpkins at Kentucky Kingdom Fall Event.

Make sure to check your UB email daily to ensure you don't miss out on any important details about the trip. You will also be getting a trip contract that will need to be completed. If you have any questions, please contact your UB Admin

It is important to check your UB email at least 2-3 per week to ensure you don't miss out on any important information, sign-ups, etc. If you need your password reset, please contact your UB Counselor for assistance.

Photo submitted by UB student Jaymee Logsdon

Kings Island

By Carlie Dunaway, Jaymee Logsdon, and Zoey Griffith

June 2024

One of the things that the Upward Bound Programs are best known for is the Academic experiences and Educational/Cultural Trips provided to students every year, like the trip to Columbus Zoo and Zoombezi Bay waterpark last year as well as the 2023 junior trip to South Dakota. Wednesday, June 19th, students were taken on a trip over to Mason, Ohio to visit Kings Island; their first of many trips that will be taken during the 4-week summer program.

Since it was opened on April 19th, 1972 by Cedar Fair, the theme park has grown to host 43 attractions, 14 of which are roller coasters and 3 of which are water rides. On top of that, Kings Island also has a water park included with the theme park, named Soak City, with 36 water slides and 5 swimming pools. UB 2024 student, Camani Smith, who spent most of their time at Soak City said, “ I spent most of my time at the wave pool, even though it was very crowded because of the heat. The lifeguards there were very good and protective and made sure everyone under the height requirement was wearing a life jacket.”

The first attractions to make an arrival at Kings Island were the Eiffel Tower, Royal Fountain, and Racer Roller Coaster, and they are all still there today. Also an original, the Beast, in its prime, was the tallest, longest, and fastest wooden roller coaster in the world. In the present day, the Orion is the most popular attraction, and tallest roller coaster at the park. It opened July 2nd, 2020, holding a top speed at 91 mph. UB 2024 student, Katlyn Hughes, when asked about their experience on the rides, said, “ I thought it was really fun, especially with friends, it definitely wouldn't have been as fun if my friends weren't there! The mood was good because our attitudes were.”

For many, going to theme parks is not something that is financially available to them, however, Upward Bound brings these experiences to its students 100% free of charge! When asked how upward bound is able to pay for this experience for all the students in the program, Admin Gabrielle Johnson said,”Summer food program allows us to take all the fun trips. The summer food program is the reason that the students are required to have certain food components. We get those meals reimbursed to UB, which we can then use to take our students on fun trips, like Kings Island.”, And when asked why they chose to take students there, she replied, “We chose Kings Island because it is a fun trip to take where all students can go, as well as get food passes for food every 90 minutes, and it has different types of entertainment for all students. Roller coasters also deal with science, which allows our students to get hands-on experience in STEAM.”

Despite the heat and lack of a breeze, the trip was full of fun and smiles all around the park. There was not an upward bound student in sight with a frown on their face when they got off of those rides! It is safe to say that the Upward Bound 2024 trip to Kings Island was a success, and students are anxiously awaiting what the program has in store for them when next summer rolls around.

Photo by Dayton Local

We're Recruiting!!

The Upward Bound Programs at Morehead State University are currently accepting new student applications.

9th, 10th, or 11th grade students at the following high schools: Bath, Bracken, Boyd, East Carter, Elliott, Fleming, Harrison, Johnson Central, Lawrence, Lewis, Magoffin, Mason, Menifee, Montgomery, Morgan, Nicholas, Paul Blazer, Robertson, Rowan, and West Carter High Schools, are eligible to apply.

Students can submit the Online Application through our recruitment site at join.moreheadub.org or students can obtain a paper application by visiting our website or their high school guidance counselor for assistance.

UB/UBMS Eligibility Requirements

Submit the online and/or paper application with required documentation

a. Guidance Recommendation Form

b. Two Teacher Recommendation Forms

c. 2023 Taxable Income Information (IRS 1040)

Have at least a 2.5 GPA
Be first-generation, meet federal income requirements, and/or academic risk
Be College Bound
Students accepted into Upward Bound Math Science (UBMS) must show a strong interest in obtaining a STEM related college degree.

Stress During Uncertain Times

Taken from apa.org

No one can avoid the unexpected. But these simple steps can help you better face life’s uncertainties.

Be kind to yourself: Some people are better at dealing with uncertainties than others, so don’t beat yourself up if your tolerance for unpredictability is lower than a friend’s. Remind yourself that it might take time for the stressful situation to resolve, and be patient with yourself in the meantime.

Reflect on past successes: Chances are you’ve overcome stressful events in the past—and you survived! Give yourself credit. Reflect on what you did during that event that was helpful and what you might like to do differently this time.

Develop new skills: When life is relatively calm, make a point to try things outside your comfort zone. From standing up to a difficult boss to trying a new sport, taking risks helps you develop confidence and skills that come in handy when life veers off course.

Limit exposure to news: When we’re stressed about something, it can be hard to look away. But compulsively checking the news only keeps you wound up. Try to limit your check-ins and avoid the news during vulnerable times of day, such as right before bedtime.

Avoid dwelling on things you can’t control: When uncertainty strikes, many people immediately imagine worst-case scenarios. Get out of the habit of ruminating on negative events.

Take your own advice: Ask yourself: If a friend came to me with this worry, what would I tell them? Imagining your situation from the outside can often provide perspective and fresh ideas.

Engage in self-care: Don’t let stress derail your healthy routines. Make efforts to eat well, exercise, and get enough sleep. Many people find stress release in practices such as yoga and meditation.

Seek support from those you trust: Many people isolate themselves when they’re stressed or worried. But social support is important, so reach out to family and friends.

Control what you can: Focus on the things that are within your control, even if it’s as simple as weekly meal planning or laying out your clothes the night before a stressful day. Establish routines to give your days and weeks some comforting structure.

Ask for help: If you’re having trouble managing stress and coping with uncertainty on your own, ask for help.

How to Help Your Child Prep for ACT

Taken from The Princeton Review

Understanding Changes in the College Process

Many things have changed in the college admissions process. Institutions of Higher Education have become more competitive in their admissions criteria making it extremely important to take all of the necessary steps to ensure your students have the best college application, which starts with improving their test scores on college entrance exams.

One concrete step parents can take is to help teens improve their ACT test scores . Strong ACT scores can certainly help with college admissions—particularly at “selective” schools, which may use quantitative measures such as GPA and test scores to cull applicants worthy of further consideration. Strong GPA and test-score numbers can also help students earn merit-based aid. Anything you can do to help your students increase those quantitative measures is a great idea.

Focusing on Test Scores

Test scores are, of course, easier to raise in a short period of time than a GPA. The first step in helping your student with standardized tests is to get a baseline score. Many schools offer free practice tests for this reason. If your student’s school does not, then you can have your child sign up for a free practice ACT . Your child should get a score report that details the kinds of questions that he or she aced, as well as the ones that presented challenges. That report is a valuable tool for directing your score-improvement efforts.

Creating a Test-Prep Plan to Help Your Child Prepare for The ACT

Once your child is ready to prepare for The ACT, you’ll need to decide together on a target score and test-prep strategy. There are many options available. Your child might opt for self-directed ACT prep from books or other study materials (which can be online or physical copy), or even customized tutoring.

Parents, you know your student better than anyone, so you should have a good sense of which prep approach will be the most helpful. If your child is very driven, then self-paced prep can be sufficient. If he or she will get lost in the shuffle of a class with several students, that may not be the best option. If your child’s scores are higher on some sections than others, a tutor can address key areas of focus, with special attention paid to your student’s unique strengths and weaknesses. Your child’s goals, learning process, and schedule, in addition to your budget, will determine the best course of action.

Some students are eager to do dedicated test prep—having a plan can have a calming effect in itself! Other students, however, may not be crazy about the prospect of test prep. It’s a good idea to talk about what your student would prefer and what you both expect from the process. Decide together on a test-prep plan that works for the whole family. Then stick with it. There are plenty of FREE online resources to assist your students in getting the extra support they need to succeed. Also have them reach out their school counselors to see if there are dedicated resources to support them.

No matter what prep path your student takes, it is essential to set clear expectations. One especially helpful expectation is that your student will do some practice every day (even if it’s only 15 or 30 minutes some days) rather than cramming it in once a week. Also plan out how many practice tests your student will take to measure progress (two or three are usually sufficient), and spread those out over the course of the prep period. Most students do best when they can prep over a period of a few months, slowly absorbing and mastering new skills and checking for improvements by taking occasional practice tests. As you and your child plan the test-prep timeline, make sure there is enough time to retake the actual ACT in case that’s needed. Students who retake the test often see their scores increase, and there are many schools that will “ superscore ” the ACT

Knowing Your Role as a Parent

It is important to define everyone’s roles within the test-prep plan. Obviously, the student must do the actual work and take the practice tests (otherwise, no learning or improvement can happen!). This doesn’t mean that the parents cannot play a role, however. Again, use what you know about your student to decide the best way for you to help. Does your student do best when he or she makes the study plan? Does your child typically need gentle reminders to keep up with the work and stay on schedule? Whatever has worked with your student for school in the past is likely to work with the test-prep process as well.

If your student wants your help, there are plenty of ways for you to get involved. Start by becoming familiar with the ACT . (The last thing you want to do is pass outdated information on to your student—for instance, the Science portion of the ACT is becoming optional! Knowing the test structure will also help you make sense of the strategies and techniques your student is learning. As your child learns new concepts, ask for explanations of strategies such as pacing and guessing. Create a calm, quiet environment for your student to study or take tests, and time your child on practice tests if needed. If it is difficult to create realistic testing conditions in your home, consider booking a room at a local library.

If you think it will benefit your student, you can also help check answers to homework and test questions. Keeping track of progress is important, and students tend to focus only on what they get wrong. Point out what went well, and help your child see where additional work is still needed. Sometimes, having a fresh perspective can help your child identify areas where a new approach may be warranted.

Focusing on the Future

As you help your student, keep in mind that your goal is to make the test-prep process easier. If your child begins to get edgy when you talk about testing, back off a little bit. The worst mistakes a concerned parent can make are getting too involved or putting too much pressure on a student. Test anxieties tend to run high, so don’t make your child even more nervous. Encourage your child to focus on areas of strength, praise any progress you see, instill confidence, and focus on the big picture: This test is one step toward an exciting future.

Needing to contact your UB Counselor?

Ashley Cooper (Associate Director UB Central)

Schools Served: Elliott, Morgan, and Magoffin

Brandon Isaac (Associate Director UBMS North)

Schools Served: Mason, Menifee, and Rowan

Gabby Johnson (Associate Director UBMS South)

Schools Served: Boyd, Paul Blazer, and Robertson

Gabe Markwell (Associate Director UB East)

Schools Served: Bracken, Lawrence, and Johnson

Cheyenne Wilson (Academic Coordinator)

Schools Served: Bath, Harrison, Montgomery and Nicholas

We are in the process of hiring a new Academic Coordinator who will serve Fleming, Lewis, East and West Carter. In the meantime, if you need to contact UB, the UB Admin Staff member who is serving your school is listed below:

Brandon: Fleming and Lewis

Ashley: East Carter

Cheyenne: West Carter

Upward Bound and Upward Bound Math & Science are 100% federally funded by the U.S. Department of Education and sponsored by Morehead State University.

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