Coordinator’s�Column�
Welcome to Fall 2009! Upward Bound had a great summer and we are planning informative and help-ful parent workshops for the Fall and Spring. In these challenging times, I want to remind students and parents that financial assis-tance for college is definitely avail-able and we at Upward Bound will do all we can to assist families with their financial aid and scholarship applications.
Have a great semester!
Stephanie Paramore,
M.A.
Counselor’s Corner
My name is Oscar Fonseca and I am happy to be your new counselor for the West Valley.
Ten years ago I graduated from La Quinta High School and attended College of the Desert. In 2002, I graduated from COD and trans-ferred to California State University Fresno, also known as Fresno State, home of the Bulldogs, where I re-ceived a Bachelor’s Degree in 2004 and a Master Degree in Counseling in 2008. Like many of you I am also a first generation college student and the pride of my family.
After living in Fresno for the past seven years, I am coming back home to the Coachella Valley.
I am honored to be part of a group of students that respects the oppor-tunity that many other students do not have. You have blown me away. Let’s keep up the great work and make it an awesome year!
Oscar Fonseca, Oscar Fonseca, Oscar Fonseca, Oscar Fonseca,
M. SM. SM. SM. S.
Martha Sanchez, a
senior at Indio High
School has a 3.0
GPA. She has taken
college prep courses
such as Pre-Calculus and AP
Spanish. Martha wants to at-
tend California State University
San Bernardino and major in
Business Management. Her
advice to other students: “Don't
let your destiny be chosen for
you, you get to choose your
destiny.”
Raul�Estrada�is a junior at Cathedral City High School. His many creative interests have lead him to be involved in both Marching and Sym-
phonic Band as well as being a photog-rapher for the Invisible Children Club, a reporter for the CCHS newspaper, and a Key Club member, all while maintain-ing a 3.96 GPA. Raul wants to study pre-dentistry and become an orthodon-tist. He says “UB has helped me so much with everything concerning college awareness and the SAT... I
feel I am ready for UCLA.”
Jennifer Briones
is a sophomore at
Desert Hot Springs High. While main-taining a 4.0 GPA,
she is active in ten-
nis, soccer, AVID, and Key Club.
Courses such as World History
honors and English 2 honors also
keep her quite busy. Jennifer
wants to be a pediatrician with
the goal of attending UCLA to
study pre-med. For Jennifer
“Upward Bound has given me Upward Bound has given me Upward Bound has given me Upward Bound has given me
the best opportunity in life, and I the best opportunity in life, and I the best opportunity in life, and I the best opportunity in life, and I
always want to do my best.”always want to do my best.”always want to do my best.”always want to do my best.”
Juan�Martin����is a senior at Palm Springs High School. With a 3.5 GPA and current enroll-
ment in Pre-Calculus Honors, Juan is interested in studying mechanical engineering and perhaps attending either CSU Northridge, CSU Fullerton, or Long Beach State. He partici-pates in the Business Academy at PSHS and says that “Upward Bound has helped me keep my grades up and stay active in school”.
• The average overall
GPA of Upward Bound
students as of Spring
2009 is 3.132?
• The Upward
Bound class of
2009 had a 100%
high school
graduation rate?
• From academic year
2008-09 to the begin-
ning of 2009-10, UB
retained 94.7% of its
students?
• Of the continuing or
finishing participants,
93.0% maintained a
GPA of 2.0 or better?
• Many independ-
ent universities offer
families earning less
than $60,000 per year
full tuition and no
student loans?
-A newsletter highlighting Upward Bound students and their academic success
Student SpotlightStudent SpotlightStudent SpotlightStudent Spotlight
CCCC ynthia Avalos, a senior at
Coachella Valley
High School is
in the spotlight
for this issue of
Achievements.
And, achieve
she has! After completing all of
her A through G requirements
early, Cynthia is currently en-
rolled in English 1A and Psychol-
ogy 001 at College of the De-
sert.
To balance her academic sched-
ule, Cynthia is actively involved
in several extracurricular activi-
ties including serving as the Ex-
ecutive Board Historian for ASB,
the Historian for Young Women
Ambassadors, and the Director
of Publicity for the Partnership
Academy Student Senate. Cyn-
thia is also a part of Catch A
Dream and the Scholar’s Club.
When asked what motivates
her, Cynthia says “the thought
of making my parents proud of
me and being a role model for
my younger brothers”.
Not only is Cynthia a dedicated
student she is a concerned citi-
zen who volunteers at Martha’s
Village. As if she weren’t already
busy enough, she plays midfield
“BALANCING ACTS” “BALANCING ACTS” “BALANCING ACTS” “BALANCING ACTS” UB Students Take on School and Much More!
Did You Know...Did You Know...Did You Know...Did You Know...
Fall 2009—Vol. 2, No. 1
T he only thing that stands be-
tween a man and what he
wants from life is often merely the
will to try it and faith to believe it is
possible.
-Richard Devos
Summer�at�Upward�Bound�
F or many students, summer is
the time to take a break from
school and just hang out. At
Upward Bound, students stay mentally
active, tour colleges, and even work
ahead for the next year’s classes.
During the Summer Academy, using
an online program called Cyber High,
students worked on Math, English and/
or History to strengthen their analyti-
cal and reading skills.
During the Upward Bound Summer
Residential Program at CSU Northridge,
students toured three colleges: North-
ridge, UCLA ,and California Lutheran
University. They also took a “mini-
course” on education which explored
various themes including the history and
future of education in California.
Just to keep things interesting, a
friendly bowling competition took place.
For some, this was a chance to “strike”
out and try something new!
SATURDAY ACADEMIES October 17
October 24*
November 7
November 21
December 5
December 12*
*back-to-back Saturdays
UPCOMING EVENTS
Friday, October 9
College Tour-Cal Poly Pomona and
University of Redlands
Saturday, October 10
SAT & Subject Tests
Wednesday, October 21
FAFSA Overview: Seniors & Parents
Saturday, October 24
ACT & ACT Plus Writing
Thursday, November 18
Freshman/Sophomore Parents
Workshop
What is Upward Bound?
Upward Bound at College of the De-sert 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 Avenue
Palm Desert, CA 92262
Phone: 760.776.2541
Fax: 760.776.7247
collegeofthedesert.edu/ub
SPOTLIGHT, continued from page 1
on the CVHS soccer team. For Cynthia, Upward Bound has played a vital role in her success.
“It’s been a support system 100% for everything. UB has set the steps for me to follow and
has encouraged me”. After graduating from high school, Cynthia plans to attend either the
University of San Diego or perhaps UCLA, to major in psychology with goal of one day becom-
ing a psychotherapist. To Cynthia and all of our Upward Bound students, we say “YOU CAN
DO IT” and “Keep up the great work!”
“I think that the college
tours were the most useful
part of the trip.”
About the Summer
Residential Trip...
“The topics that Mr.
Nava covered were
really helpful, like the
history of what my cul-
ture has had in this
country in the past. I
did not know about
most of what he told us
and I really enjoyed it..”
-UB Student
Summer Residential SNAPSHOTS Summer Residential SNAPSHOTS Summer Residential SNAPSHOTS Summer Residential SNAPSHOTS
Amanda, Roxana, Vanessa & Debbie look
like they’re ready for college.
Nancy, Maria, Roxie & Dulce hanging
around during a break
CSU Northridge Info Session
UB on a field trip adventure
Cal Lutheran Group Photo
John, Jaime, Alex, Miguel and Louis waiting for the CSUN Tour
Julian, Alejandro, Jaime, Erick, Andrea, Martha, Jazmin,
Denise & Noelia during the Cal Lutheran Tour.
Maria, Nancy, Kiara, Jennifer, Vanessa, Amanda, & Roxana wait
patiently in line to see “The Wiz”, a teen-produced play.