Interested high school sophomores and juniors should enroll now for the Upward Bound Math and Science program at Northwest Missouri State University.
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This free, hands-on learning experience is offered each summer on the Northwest campus. Enrollment applications and instructions are available from high school guidance counselors or on-line at www.nwmissouri.edu/~ubms. All applications must be mailed or e-mailed by Monday, Jan. 31.
The six-week camp runs from June 3 to July 15. All student expenses are covered, including round-trip mileage and admission charges during weekend field trips. In past years students have visited such attractions as the Omaha Zoo, Worlds of Fun, Science City at Union Station and Starlight Theater.
Funded by the Department of Education, the program is designed for high school sophomores and juniors whose family incomes are moderately low, or who are potential first-generation college students.
Applicants should be interested in math, science or computer-related careers and must have taken and passed college preparatory math and science classes each year of high school.
"This is a program for students who desire to gain self-confidence and experience hands-on learning while making new friends who, like themselves, enjoy math and science," said Project Counselor Linda Davison. "Every year students tell us their summer at UBMS was the best they have ever experienced, and we see them soar toward becoming confident young men and women."
Offered at Northwest since 1992, the Upward Bound Math and Science program serves students from Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas and Missouri. Each year young people develop new friendships and enjoy new experiences while enriching their science and math skills.
Davison said program benefits include memorable lessons, a focused learning environment, the opportunity to work with skilled instructors, high-speed Internet and comfortable living accommodations in a Northwest residence hall room.
In addition, students have access to all University facilities and enjoy field trips that support the curriculum and allow them to make new friends from across the four-state region.
UBMS participants earn a stipend during the summer program and each semester of the academic year. After graduating from high school, students eligible for the "Bridge" component receive the equivalent of a $1,000 scholarship.
Many students find that spending six weeks on a university campus helps reduce their anxiety about attending college.
"I was shocked by how much I enjoyed attending UBMS," said Sarah Kubler, now a computer engineering student at Kansas State University. "It was the first time I had left home for an extended amount of time, and I think it really helped me prepare for college. This camp is not just about math and science; it’s about connecting people and teaching them how to grow."
Neil Hatfield, currently studying mathematics at Doane College in Nebraska, said, "UBMS is a combination of fun and learning. This is not your run-of-the-mill boring camp. There are lots of fun activities that reinforce the ideas presented in class."
For more information, call (660) 562-1632 or (660) 562-1538 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Inquiries may also be e-mailed in care of Linda Davison, project counselor, at [email protected] or Jim Clark, project director, at [email protected].