Department highlight: Upward Bound

December 2023 Upward Bound (UB) community service toy drive project. Picture includes Upward Bound students (volunteers), UB staff, Martina Granados (Senior Director), Diaz Family Foundation board members, Boys & Girls Clubs of Fresno County (Headquarters Office), California Council President Tyler Maxwell, and President Saul Jimenez Sandoval

What is Upward Bound: Fresno State Upward Bound (UB) empowers high school students through tutoring, mentorship, and intentional preparatory activities to overcome adversity and achieve academic and career aspirations. 

UB primarily serves students from low-income families or those who would be first-generation college students, aiming to recruit freshmen in order to guide them throughout their high school journey. 

Additionally, UB offers a six-week summer residential program at Fresno State, monthly Saturday Academies, 6-8 college visits within California, keynote speakers, workshops, and a senior recognition ceremony to celebrate and honor senior-year students and their commitment to the program.

How many students participate in UB: Up to 153 students per year. UB serves high school students from Edison, Madera, Madera South, Fresno, McLane and Roosevelt.  

University Center building

Student eligibility: 9th or 10th low-income and/or first-generation college-bound students with a minimum 2.8 cumulative GPA

Where is the UB office: University Center – directly across from the library entrance. 

Who is on the UB team: UB has a total of 5 full-time staff members, which includes a program assistant, three academic counselors and one director. Additionally, UB has nine student staff members: three program assistants, one social work intern who is solely dedicated to mental health and wellness, and five academic tutors. 

A few notable UB alumni:

  • Oprah Winfrey, media personality
  • Viola Davis, actor
  • José Moreno Hernández, NASA astronaut
  • John Quiñones, ABC News corresponder 
  • James Samuel “Jimmy Jam” Harris III and Terry Steven Lewis, a team of R&B  musicians/songwriters/record producers 

Visit the UB website to get more details about the program.

by MARISA MATA

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