www.CollegeOfTheDesert.edu 43500 Monterey Avenue Palm Desert, CA 92260

760.773.2541

- A Newsletter Highlighting Upward Bound Students and their Academic Success

Student Spotlight

Spring/Summer 2015—Vol. 7, No. 2

Fourth Annual Alumni and Career Day Conference Highlights

O n April 25, 2015, Upward Bound students, staff, alumni, and local professionals convened for the 4th Annual Alumni and Career Day Conference held at College

of the Desert. The students started off their day by listening to an inspirational individ-ual Joshue Leyva, B.S Physiological Sciences, UCLA Class of 2014 graduate and Desert Hot Springs native. Joshue’s mission is to become a doctor and return to the Coachella Valley. He currently serves his community as a member of Congressman Dr. Raul Ruiz’s staff. In the afternoon students were able to attend a variety of career presentations in the fields of engineering, business, sports and media, non-profit, and healthcare.

Message from the Director It is with great excitement that I join the Upward Bound Family as the Director of this amazing program. I started as Director of Upward Bound in February and am loving this role. I am coming to you with many years of experience in the world of education. I have served as a high school counselor at two local high schools, and also worked for a local scholarship program called Pathways to Success. I am extremely passionate about helping students gain access to higher education, and I believe Upward Bound is one of the best programs the Coachella Valley has to offer. Our students are dedicated, hard-working, smart, optimistic, and a true joy to work with. I have enjoyed every minute I have had the opportunity to be a part of this program, and I am grateful for the warm welcoming students and staff have extended to me. We have many wonderful things planned for the continued success of this program, and I look forward to spending the summer getting to know our students as they attend our UB Summer Program.

Angel Meraz Upward Bound Director

Staffing Updates

We are thrilled to introduce our new Bilingual Secretary, Carolina Martinez. Carolina is an alumni from Indio High School and our very own Upward Bound program, Class of 2009. Carolina received her Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts from California State University, Northridge, Class of 2014. Carolina has served as a Resident Advisor, Office Assistant, and English Tutor at Upward Bound Math & Science at El Camino Community College. Now, Carolina continues to pay it forward by serving current Upward Bound at College of the Desert students. Please welcome Carolina, and stop by to say hello the next time you are on campus!

Carolina M.

UB students, staff, and presenters

UB alumni panel UB students participating in network activity

Career Day Presenters

Key Note Speaker,

Joshue Leyva

E very time Leiah Elisarraras, a rising senior at

Indio High School, arrives to Upward Bound

Saturday Academy, she

comes in with a smile and

enthusiasm to learn. She

has a positive attitude, and

sets an example of hard

work and perseverance for

her peers. Leiah is involved

in multiple activities and

sports while taking on a

rigorous academic load of honors and advanced

placement courses at her high school.

Leiah, joined Upward Bound in Fall 2012. During

her freshmen year, she also joined her high

school’s volleyball, basketball, softball, tennis,

track, and cross country team. And in Fall 2014

began training for water polo. Besides being

involved in sports, Leiah is also the commission-

er of publications at her school’s Associated Stu-

dent Body (ASB). She is also involved in the

Ophelia Project, Youth Court, California Scholar-

ship Federation, and the AVID Club.

Leiah plans to major in Criminal Justice at either

Chapman University, UC Santa Barbara, or Uni-

versity of La Verne. Leiah’s goal is to become an

Federal Bureau of Investigation agent.

Leiah encourages students to get involved not

just at their school but in their own communi-

ties. She adds that being involved has taught her

leadership and social skills. Taking into account

everything that Leiah has accomplished, we cant

wait to see what her senior year has in store for

her!

Leiah E.

Class of 2015

College Destinations

www.CollegeOfTheDesert.edu 43500 Monterey Avenue Palm Desert, CA 92260

760.773.2541

UB SUMMER ACADEMY Monday, June 22 - Thursday,

July 23, 2015 UPCOMING EVENTS Friday, June 26, 2015

University of California, Riverside Campus Tour

Friday, July 10, 2015 University of Southern California,

Campus Tour Class of 2016 Boot Camp

July 22-23, 2015

Summer Residential Trip to San Diego County

Tuesday, July 28-August 1, 2015

What is Upward Bound?

Upward Bound at College of the Desert is a federal TRIO Program funded 100%by the U.S. Department of Education.

The program is designed to prepare local high school students to enter and

graduate from college with a Bachelor’s degree.

Published by:

Upward Bound at College of the Desert 43-500 Monterey Ave., CSSC Ste. 249

Palm Desert, CA 92260 Phone: 760.773.2541

Fax: 760.776.7247 collegeofthedesert.edu/ub

Ub_inthedesert on Facebook

I f your dreams do not scare you, they are not big

enough.

-Ellen Johnson Sirleaf President of Liberia

The Living Desert

California State University, Long Beach

Perla Andrade– CSU Fullerton Quetzally Arvizu-Gonzalez-– College of

the Desert Marina Bojorquez– UC Merced

Jessica Cruz– US Navy Mireya Cuevas– CSU San Bernardino Julissa Diaz-Reyes– UC Santa Barbara

Melisa Dolore-Silva– UC Riverside Karina Enriquez– College of the Desert

Monica Fonseca– UC Berkeley Lucia Fuentes– College of the Desert Crystal Marie Garcia– UC Riverside

Noe Garcia– UC Irvine Vanesa Gutierrez– St. John’s University

Vanesa Hernandez– CSU San Bernardino Alfredo Islas– UC Merced

Jose Lemus– College of the Desert Hilario Lopez– UC Santa Barbara Viviana Martin– UC Los Angeles

Juan Mejia-Palacios– CSU San Bernardino Debora Miranda– College of the Desert

Fernando Villafana– CSU San Bernardino Camilo Zaragoza– CSU San Bernardino

CONGRATULATIONS

to all of our graduating seniors!

O n Saturday, March 21, 2015, Upward Bound students and staff visited the Living Desert.

To learn about the animals and plants at the Living Desert, students spent their day

participating in a scavenger hunt. Students explored the park by deciphering clues and

searching for the correct park location. Students were also asked to take creative and fun

pictures with the animals and plants. Students enjoyed learning about the amazing animals.

O n Friday, March 13, 2015, the TRiO Programs Spring 2014 College Tour

took place at California State University, Long Beach. Students from the

four College of the Desert TRiO Programs (Upward Bound, ACES, TRiO DSPS,

and TRiO EVC) enjoyed a tour, lead by a TRiO EVC alumnus, and learned about the programs,

majors, and activities CSULB has to offer. Students also visited the Aquarium of the Pacific

and met someplayful penguins.