Upward Bound trunk party prepares Calumet students for college with advice and items they’ll need

A group of college-bound high school students at Metropolitan Calumet are a big step closer to college readiness!

Asserting Achievement, Literacy & Resiliency (AALR) hosted its second annual College Preparedness and Readiness Trunk Party for our Calumet Center’s Upward Bound program.

Upward Bound provides educational and supportive services to eligible first-generation, college-bound students to help them successfully complete high school and enter college.

As AALR’s “Chicago Hope” partner, Metropolitan Calumet’s Upward Bound teens benefited from a morning of college readiness, including a “College 101” workshop conducted by a Dr. Hank Allen, a professor of Sociology at Wheaton College; a “Who Am I? Image and Personal Branding” Q&A session by VaLarie Humphrey, a motivational and transformational speaker; and a speed networking exercise.

A few familiar faces – previous Upward Bound students, now in their first year of college – stopped by to share their perspectives on the college experience. Journee Lockridge, majoring in Finance at Howard University, and Latisha Council, majoring in Biology at Spelman College, gave our students the “real deal” on what to expect.

The day ended with a special presentation from AALR Board Members: each student received a suitcase filled with items they’ll need at school, donated by AALR.

Thank you to Asserting Achievement, Literacy & Resiliency for supporting our teens!