Upward Bound, founded on the Creighton University campus in the early 1960’s, is a program that targets high school students with a desire to pursue a college education.

High school students that qualify must be first-generation college-bound, meaning neither parent attended a four-year college. Students must maintain a 2.5 GPA to remain eligible in the program to receive the various services that are offered including weekly tutorials, college tours, tutoring sessions, out of state college visits and summer class sessions. The Upward Bound program reaches all students in the Omaha Metro area that are eligible, but traditionally a large population of its students are educated in the Omaha Public Schools district.

Upward Bound holds tutoring sessions Monday through Thursday from 3-6 p.m. allowing its participants to meet with qualified graduate or undergraduate college students to get help with any homework they may have that week. There are a number of tutors that cycle in and out throughout the week, all of which are specialized in certain subjects.

“It’s really beneficial for the students because they get a lot of help from the tutors,” Kelcie Emoto, said. Emoto is of the tutors for Upward Bound. “The students come in from all over Omaha and we make sure they know what they are studying, what they are working on and we check up on them to see if they have questions about their homework.” 

By attending these weekly tutor sessions, students are not only able to receive the help they need on their schoolwork, but also gain experience with communicating with others about other areas of their life.

“As a tutor, you not only help (the students) with their homework, you give them advice on college life,” tutor Nghi Hoang said. “If they have any questions about the process, you help them and give them some advice about stress-related stuff that comes with applying for colleges or time management.”

One Upward Bound student Shaterra Lewis said that she finds many of the services very beneficial for those highs school students who may have little or no knowledge of how to apply for college.

“Personally, I really love Upward Bound,” Lewis said. “They offer us a lot of chances to go to college and get prepared (for college). If you don’t know anything about getting ready for college or even know what to do with letters of recommendation, writing your essay or transcripts, they really help out and it is very beneficial.”

Upward Bound is always looking for Creighton students to apply to become tutors in the program.

“Definitely get involved with this program,” Hoang said. “They always need college students because there is always a shortage of tutors. It’s a great on-campus job, a great group of students you get to work with and a lot of good interaction with high school students.”

“Working with Upward Bound is a great way for Creighton students to give back to someone who wants to be in the position you are in, especially if you were a first-generation (college student) or a low income student growing up. I think those two things are something that is universal,” Director Anitra Townsend said. “It doesn’t deal with race and it doesn’t deal with gender. These are students that are in the exact same position that you were in when you were in high school and this is a great way to show them what they can achieve if they really want to do it.”