Dr. David Underwood, who retired as associate vice president for academic affairs at Arkansas Tech University earlier this year, was honored on Family Day 2017 with induction into Upward Bound as an honorary member.
The award is in recognition of the role that Underwood played in securing grants that brought Upward Bound programming to ATU in 2003 and Student Support Services programming to the university in 2010, as well as subsequent grants that have sustained those programs at Arkansas Tech.
Underwood was a member of the Arkansas Tech faculty for 16 years. He retired on June 30, 2017, at the faculty rank of professor of education.
Upward Bound and Student Support Services are both part of TRIO, an initiative enacted by the United States government in 1964 to overcome class, social and cultural barriers to higher education.
Arkansas Tech administers the Upward Bound math and science program as well as the Upward Bound classic program. High school students selected for Upward Bound must meet income guidelines as set by the federal government and/or be a potential first-generation college student.
The Upward Bound classic program at ATU serves students from the public high schools in Atkins, Dover, Hector and Lamar. ATU’s Upward Bound math and science program is for public high school students from Danville, Dardanelle, Two Rivers and Western Yell County.
Participants in Upward Bound have access to tutoring resources and cultural opportunities designed to expand their horizons.
Student Support Services offers similar resources to eligible students enrolled at ATU.
