Approximately 100 high school students from the Arkansas River Valley are participating in the 2026 Arkansas Tech University Upward Bound residential summer program on the ATU campus in Russellville.
During the month of June, those high school students are studying English, math, science and electives such as human geography, robotics, theatre, astronomy, leadership, television production, money management, criminal justice and art. They are also engaged in a variety of recreational activities.
After moving in on Sunday, May 31, the first week of the summer program provided the ATU Upward Bound students with an opportunity to tour the Arkansas Tech campus in Russellville and learn more about the post-secondary educational options available there. They will subsequently tour other campuses, including the ones at Hendrix College, Central Baptist College and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
The Upward Bound classic program at ATU serves students from the public high schools in Atkins, Dover, Hector, Johnson County Westside and Lamar. ATU’s Upward Bound math and science program is for public high school students from Danville, Dardanelle, Two Rivers, Western Yell County and Wonderview. Each of those districts are represented among the approximately 100 students participating in the ATU Upward Bound summer program.
Jill Hendricks, director of upward bound programs at Arkansas Tech, is joined on the ATU Upward Bound staff by target school liaisons Shawna Davis and Annie McNeely.
During the school year, representatives from ATU go into partner high schools to provide academic support for Upward Bound program participants.
Participants in the federally-funded initiatives are exposed to a variety of resources and experiences designed to prepare them for college enrollment and success. Students selected for Upward Bound must meet income guidelines as set by the federal government and/or be a potential first-generation college student.
Following the conclusion of the on-campus summer program on Thursday, July 2, a select group of students from the ATU Upward Bound classic program and the ATU Upward Bound math and science program will visit St. Louis, Mo., for additional learning and cultural immersion.
Learn more at www.atu.edu/upbound and www.atu.edu/ubms.
