Upward Bound scholars and families gather to learn about college opportunities and celebrate the holiday season
On December 19, scholars from Garfield and Rainier Beach High Schools gathered with family and Upward Bound (UB) staff to hear from program alumnae and celebrate all the accomplishments of UB scholars in 2025. The annual UB Winter Dinner is a time for all program participants and their families to be together, eat good food, and connect with one another together with a community of supporters.
Upward Bound is a TRIO program, a federally funded college prep program operated by DEEL staff through grants provided by the federal Department of Education. UB focuses on serving current high school students in their goal of attaining a post-secondary school degree. Eligible students are either low-income or first generation in their family to go to college, or both. DEEL’s Upward Bound program serves Garfield and Rainer Beach high schools, and students can enroll as early as the summer before 9th grade.
During the event, a panel of alumnae shared insights into their first semester of college. Scholar Christina Gonzalez-Luna attends University of Washington-Seattle and shared about their experience adjusting to larger class sizes in lecture halls. The transition was overwhelming at first, but classes now feel normal. “My stress level is actually lower in college. I feel like I get to explore and take a lot of different types of classes,” Gonzalez-Luna said.
Scholars Cindy Liang and Kevin Truong attend College on the east coast at Princeton and Brown respectively. Learning how to study effectively in a new environment, with new friends, was a learning curve for Liang. Truong offered that learning how to recharge their social battery took a few weeks.
“In college, especially at a four-year school, after class you go back to your dorm. But there’s a lot of people there and you have a roommate. So, the socialization can be a lot.”
– Kevin Truong, in freshman year at Brown University, Upward Bound Alum from Rainier Beach High School
Scholar Felix Hernandez Jimenez spoke about adjusting to his routine studying to be a diesel mechanic at South Seattle College through Seattle Promise. “Classes are a lot smaller and work well for me at South. For trades it’s different, from 7:00am to 1:00pm, I’m with a lot of the same people.”
Rosalinda Castro, Upward Bound Counselor, reminded scholars that their vision of what they want after school might change, and that Upward Bound staff are there to help them navigate those changes. Some scholars ended up at school that matched what they were looking for in high school, while others changed course senior year of high school.
In 2026, Upward Bound scholars will be going on several local college visits around the Seattle area and throughout western Washington. UB staff will also be taking a select number of students on the annual Spring Break college visit out of state, this year to tour colleges in New York. The UB program will be supporting the class of 2026 as they finish up their college applications and apply to scholarships. We can’t wait to see what these amazing young people do next!
The City of Seattle Department of Education and Early Learning’s mission is to transform the lives of Seattle children, youth, and families through strategic investments in education. www.seattle.gov/education
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