Upward Bound students sitting in a circle talking at NSU

ABERDEEN, S.D. – As Northern State University welcomes area high school students to campus for its annual Upward Bound Summer Program, the university is also pleased to announce the renewal of the NSU TRIO Upward Bound grant.

The U.S. Department of Education has renewed the grant for another five years. The 2022-23 funding amount is $344,095, with a total amount of $1,720,475 over the five-year period. 

The purpose of Upward Bound is to provide eligible students with the tools and skills necessary to successfully graduate from high school and enroll and graduate from the college of their choice. Services include academic supports, tutoring services, mentoring in college preparatory subjects, and social and cultural enrichment.

NSU Upward Bound also offers a six-week summer academic program where participants are invited to stay on campus and experience what college is like. For 2022, that program began on May 25, with the move-in of 28 participants and seven full-time tutor/mentor staff. 

Students will reside in Steele Hall and take academic coursework throughout the summer in subjects such as reading, writing, math, science and a foreign language. At the end of the program, they will travel to Chicago and visit colleges, museums and other cultural and educational locations. 

About Upward Bound

NSU Upward Bound is open to high school students in the northeastern corner of the state, attending Aberdeen Central, Frederick Area, Doland, Langford, Waubay, Webster, Wilmot and Sisseton high schools. A total of 70 high school student participants are served annually; to qualify, students must be from households that are income-eligible and/or where neither parent has received a bachelor's degree. 

The objectives of the NSU program include key markers of success such as GPA and standardized test performance, as well as graduation and retention within secondary school. Upward Bound also measures the percentage of students who enroll and attend a postsecondary institution after graduation, and those who graduate with a degree. Participants in Northern's Upward Bound program consistently perform better than peers from similar backgrounds, as evidenced by data collected during the 2021 year:

  • 100 percent of Upward Bound high school seniors graduated on time, as opposed to an average of 78 percent among students of a similar background.
  • 79 percent of Upward Bound participants can boast a GPA of 2.5 or higher, compared to 42 percent from their peers.
  • 61 percent of participants enroll in an institution of higher education following graduation, compared to 41 percent from students of similar backgrounds in this region.

For more information about Upward Bound and to connect with staff, please contact Director Jennie Thompson at 605-626-3299 or jennie.thompson@northern.edu.

About Northern State University

Northern State University is a student-centered institution that provides an outstanding educational experience, preparing students through the liberal arts and professional education for their future endeavors. A regional university, Northern offers rigorous academics; diverse civic, social and cultural opportunities; and a commitment to building an inclusive environment for all points of view. Northern also offers a broad-based athletics program, sponsoring 15 NCAA Division II intercollegiate varsity sports that compete in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (NSIC). The university strives to enrich the community through partnerships such as its Educational Impact Campaign, which opened a new South Dakota School for the Blind and Visually Impaired; new athletic and recreation fields; and an on-campus regional sports complex. With the $55 million campaign, NSU has been the recipient of more than $150 million in privately funded building projects and scholarships within a decade. To learn more, visit NSU Admissions