TRiO October 2013

In This Issue: Bridge Day I & II -page 1 SLC Update & Retreat -page 2 Graduate Update: Tia Matthews -page 3-4 ACT Refresher -page 4 Mentor Spotlight -page 5 Trivia/Birthdays/ Upcoming Events -page 6 Bridge Parent/ Guardian Meeting -page 7

n u o B d r a w Up

October 2013

Messenger Volume XXV, Issue #2

Bridge Day I & II By Kia Thao

Despite holding our Upward Bound events over the MEA Break, our Bridge students still showed up positive and alert. For those unaware of whom our Bridge students are they are seniors who are getting ready to go to college next fall. So, as part of the college process, we gathered on October 17th and 18th to hold our annual Bridge Day I & II at Central High School. Fueled by plenty of donuts, coffee and juice, they were ready to tackle their college applications. The goal of Bridge Day is to give students two full days to just work on their college applications. Senior year can be a busy time, so Bridge Day allows students to work on college materials while getting direct assistance from the Upward Bound staff. Students were each assigned a UB full time staff member to help navigate their college essays and resumes. On Bridge Day I, students worked hard to finalize these documents. It was especially important to get this done first since essays and resumes can take the longest time and teachers usually request a copy of their resume in order to write recommendation letters. Students spent the first day going through many rounds of edited revisions and some students even began filling out a variety of college applications, ranging from Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MNSCU), schools that accept the Common Application, and the University of Minnesota.

By Bridge Day II, most college essays and resumes were near perfect and students continued to work on their college applications. Over the two days, staff helped review application before students submitted them. The seniors worked very hard and by the end of the second Bridge Day, everyone had made great progress on their applications.

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Overall, both Bridge Day events were the beginning to a successful start in the long journey toward acceptance into college. UB would like to thank the tutors who came to help with college essays, resumes, and college applications.

St. Olaf College TRiO Upward Bound Messenger

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SLC Update and Retreat By: Kim Hildahl

October 18th was a busy day for the 2013-2014 Student Leadership Council (SLC) members. They began their first meeting of the year by welcoming the new sophomore members and reviewing SLC policies and expectations. Next, they read a news article discussing the benefits of using Robert’s Rules of Order in a meeting. Although they can be time consuming, SLC discussed the advantages parliamentary procedures provide. The board agreed they will work hard this year to implement Robert’s Rules during meetings. The SLC store was also on the agenda for discussion. Members brought up their concerns about having healthier options for students to choose from during tutoring, such as water and granola bars. It was also pretty unanimous that they sell PowerAde because members feel they will be “profitable and delicious”. Following the meeting, SLC headed out for their retreat. This year, we went to Sever’s Corn Maze in Shakopee, MN for team building and fun! We arrived just in time to watch the pig races, then moved on to “pumpkin blasters”, where each student got to shoot mini pumpkins out of a cannon at various targets. After SLC had their fill of watching pumpkins explode, we moved on to the bird tent, where each SLC member was given a popsicle stick covered in bird seed, and watched as parakeets ate out of their hands. Jacob Sieber was deemed the “bird man”, as he had three birds on his head at one time! The team-building activity followed the bird tent. SLC divided into three teams, consisting of a staff member and a student from each grade level. They then headed to the corn maze. Teams were not allowed to use a map, but instead had to answer TRIO trivia questions that corresponded with checkpoints in the maze to find their way out. Questions included, “How many TRIO students are there in Minnesota?”, and “TRIO programs began under which president?” Kim’s team, consisting of Sota Yang, Mai Houa Yang, Alyssa Yang, and Fei Xiong answered the questions correctly, and found their way out of the maze in just under 15 minutes! After everyone successfully made it out of the maze, we headed to Fuddrucker’s for dinner, but not before making a quick stop at the corn pit. Mari, Kim, and Kia even joined in and jumped into a giant pit of corn, while SLC members made “corn angels”! Overall, it was a very enjoyable day and SLC members said they now feel closer as a team.

October 2013

St. Olaf College TRiO Upward Bound Messenger

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Graduate Update By Mari Tototzintle

T his month’s Upward Bound graduate update comes from Tia Matthews. Tia began

UB in 2007 and remained very active until graduating from St. Paul Central in 2011. Upon graduation, Tia decided to spend her next four years at Hamline University. Other than being extremely busy with college and work, Tia is focused on her academics and will graduate in 2015 with a degree in Criminal Justice and a minor in Sociology. Please enjoy reading all about the fun things Tia has been doing while at Hamline.

Tia stays busy by taking a full-load of classes (Topics in U.S History Reform Movement, Juvenile Delinquency, Basics of Forensic Science and Policing in America) and working as an RA (Residential Advisor) for Schilling Residence Hall. Tia is also involved in the Pride Black Student Alliance and works a couple of other part-time jobs. Her class schedule is Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10:20am-11:20am. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, she has two afternoon classes and a Thursday night evening class. Although her schedule is pretty jam packed, Tia manages to also attend RA meetings every Monday night and works Wednesdays and every other Friday for McVay at the Liberty Plaza. Tia told me she also works every other weekend at a 3rd job. Somehow, Tia manages to carve out some free time to spend with her friends, talking and joking around. When asked to recall a favorite UB memory and college memory, thus far, Tia said, “My favorite UB memory besides meeting my best friend, Tati Rosario, was during the Bridge Night 2011 movie and bonding. We made Grant watched Bridesmaids and the Bridge Class created a lot of memories that night in the lounge. I had literally cried from all the laughter plus our inside joke of Johnson and Johnson. My favorite college memory is meeting a lot people who care about their students, especially in the Residential Life Office. They made a huge impact on me and I am grateful for that.” Overall, Tia said that she loves college and talked a little about her expectations when entering, “I have more free time to do things like hang out with my friends or residents. I have the option to choose the classes that I want to take. I don’t know what I initially thought of college, I just knew that this was a very huge step in my life and that I had the support I needed from family, friends and Upward Bound.” Continue on next page... October 2013

St. Olaf College TRiO Upward Bound Messenger

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Graduate Update, Cont.

Last but certainly not least, I asked Tia to let us know how she feels UB helped prepare her for college and to share some words of advice with our current UB participants. As far as UB’s preparation, Tia said, “UB helped me prepare for college by taking a college class during my Bridge year and I learned my weakness of not being able to take notes while the professor is lecturing. I still struggle with it, but by them helping me notice this early it has helped me better prepare for lectures and take better notes.” Tia’s Advice: 1. Have fun! 2. Find the right group of friends that will help support you and keep you focused 3. Take advantage of any opportunity that comes your way (leadership positions, study abroad programs, etc.) 4. Don’t think that just because you are starting college or preparing to, that you have to know what you are majoring in. It’s ok if you don’t know what to major in. Take your time and explore your classes and you will find something that you want to do later in life. UB would like to thank Tia for allowing us to hear about her college life and we can’t wait to see her graduate!

ACT Refresher By Kim Hildahl

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n Saturday October 12th, Upward Bound juniors and seniors woke up early to attend the ACT Practice Test and ACT Refresher seminars. This was the first time Upward Bound combined these events, as well as the first time we have offered a practice test for juniors in the fall. Juniors found the practice test particularly useful, as most had never sat through a standardized test that was over four hours long. This helped students learn to pace themselves and get a feel for what the actual test will look like. Upward Bound will use the junior practice test scores to determine which areas students need specific help in, and will offer a second practice test in the spring to gauge their improvements.

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hile Mari proctored the practice test, Kim and Kia divided the seniors into small groups to review test strategies. Kim went over English and reading skills, while Kia refreshed students on ACT math concepts and skills. The October 26th ACT is especially important, as it is the final opportunity for seniors to raise their scores before they submit their college applications.

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alfway through the day, both juniors and seniors enjoyed pizza and cookies for lunch. After lunch, the juniors resumed their practice test and were reminded that Dominos will not be included during their official test in April. The seniors met together to review science strategies by going over how to read different charts and graphs, as well as working through some sample ACT science passages.

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fter the science portion, seniors enjoyed a game of ACT Jeopardy. They were divided into groups of three and worked together to answer questions. The categories included: math, science, reading, English, and a miscellaneous column that had questions that could be from any subject area, or overall test-taking strategies. Overall, it was a very successful day of brushing up on test-taking skills. Seniors took this ACT refresher seriously, and juniors felt they greatly benefited from being able to sit through a mock test. October 2013

St. Olaf College TRiO Upward Bound Messenger

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Mentor Spotlight: MK Xiong

By: Kia Thao

For this month’s mentor spotlight, I was able to chat with one of my good friends, MK Xiong, to get an update on what she has been up to and why she mentors for UB. This is MK’s second year as a mentor. Her mentee is Alyssa Yang, a sophomore from Central High School.

Background

MK currently lives in Minneapolis, MN. She has lived there for most of her life. MK attended St. Olaf College and majored in Sociology/Anthropology, Studio Art and Asian Studies. More recently, she received a Master in Business Administration (MBA) specializing in Marketing from Saint Mary’s University. Although she is no longer in school, she is looking forward to her next educational opportunity. MK currently works for the Upward Bound program at Hennepin Technical College. During her off hours, MK has a personal business doing event consulting and personal life stylist consultation (coach). Why MK mentors for UB I asked MK why she decided to mentor for UB and this is what she said, “It is a privilege to get the opportunity to guide a young talented individual and help them discover their passions in life. I have gone through various life experiences and gained a lot of knowledge along the way. It only makes sense to share it with others so they too have knowledge and can apply it as necessary to their own encounters.”

MK’s interests

MK has many so interests that she often thinks she has too many. However, her life motto is “never a dull moment.” She loves to try new things even if it’s just one time. Back in college, she took a ballroom dancing class and loved it. So, she recently enrolled in a ballroom course.

Advice to UB students

1. Experiences in life help generate conversation for networking… 2. Do not be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and try something different. You will be amazed at what or whom you may stumble on.

And, an interesting fact you would like to share.

An interesting fact MK would like to share with Upward Bound is most people who know her, know that she is a bit of a thrill seeker. The last thing she did was bungee jump.

October 2013

St. Olaf College TRiO Upward Bound Messenger

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Corn Maze Challenge Trivia By: Kim Hildahl

Test your TRIO knowledge to see if you would have made it out of the corn maze!

1. About how many students do TRIO programs serve each year? a. 100,000 b. 1,000,000 2. How many TRIO programs are there in Minnesota? a. 50 b. 75 3. How many TRIO students are there in Minnesota? a. 13,773 b. 12,668 4. TRIO programs were created under which US President? a. Jimmy Carter b. Lyndon B. Johnson 5. In which year did Upward Bound begin at St. Olaf? a. 1989 b. 1992

Answers: 1. B, 2. A, 3. A, 4. B, 5. A

Upcoming UB Birthdays! November Cynthia Xiong 11/8 Youa Lee 11/10 Leh Leh Win 11/10 Chiangkhai Her 11/11 Oscar Nieves Rubio 11/18 Analicia Contreras 11/20 December Nou Her 12/12 Mai Xee Vang 12/14 Kia Thao 12/15 Deanna Holmes 12/22 Mari Tototzintle 12/31

October 2013

Remember to save those stamped envelopes! Bring your Each envelope turned in to Mari, envelopes to Kia or Kim gets your advisors and you’ll name in the drawing have a chance to win! once! You can get your name entered in a drawing for just turning in the self-addressed stamped envelope you receive from Upward Bound with forms and permission slips.

Upcoming UB Events: Mark Your Calendars! Saturday, November 9th: Fall Mentor Event at Skateville in Burnsville Saturday, January 11th: Holiday Party at Humboldt St. Olaf College TRiO Upward Bound Messenger

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Bridge Parent/Guardian Meeting

By: Mari Tototzintle

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n Thursday, October 17th, Upward Bound (UB) held its annual Bridge Parent/Guardian event at Central High School. The purpose of this meeting was to help families understand the role that UB will play as their senior prepares for college. Much of the meeting was spent covering topics related to the college application and financial aid processes. UB seniors and families were provided with a detailed “Senior Timeline” that included important dates for all of our upcoming events, seminars and college related deadlines. Overall, there was a lot of information shared and UB was happy to let parents and guardians know that we are here to help. Feel free to contact Upward Bound if there are any additional questions. Important Dates for Seniors:

DECEMBER • University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and Duluth due no later than 12/15/2013.

JANUARY • Complete both student and parent(s)/guardian(s) tax forms EARLY! Information from 2013 tax returns (or other income information) is necessary to do the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

FEBRUARY • FAFSA Night with Upward Bound on Tuesday, February 18th at Humboldt OR Tuesday, February 25th at Central High School. All UB students and one parent/guardian must attend. (UB will send your FAFSA application electronically.) • Complete any additional financial aid forms required by the colleges to which you have applied. MARCH • Check your Student Aid Report (SAR) online to make sure there are no mistakes. • Complete scholarship applications. (You should apply for at least three scholarships.)

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MAY • Notify all colleges of your final decision by May 1st.

October 2013

UB Fundraiser Do you get hungry at tutoring? Wish you could munch on snacks while doing your homework?

Well, it’s that time of the year again!! The Student Leadership Council (SLC) will start fundraising for our annual Bridge Scholarship this October. The SLC Store will be open at each school during their mandatory tutoring day (Wednesdays at Humboldt and Thursdays at Central). SLC members will soon put out a survey to find out what kind of snacks they should be selling at tutoring. Make sure to let them know what favorite afterschool snacks you would like to have at tutoring. Also, don’t forget to bring money to tutoring and support the Upward Bound Bridge Scholarship. St. Olaf College TRiO Upward Bound Messenger

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St. Olaf College TRiO Upward Bound Messenger est. 1989 Program Staff Mari Tototzintle, Director Kia Thao, Program Coordinator Kim Hildahl, Academic Advisor Denice Stocker, Administrative Assistant Newsletter Staff Denice Stocker, Administrative Assistant & Layout Kia Thao, Program Coordinator & Layout The St. Olaf College TRiO Upward Bound Messenger is published monthly September-May, except for combined editions in August/September, November/December, and April/May. Editors reserve the right to add, change or delete articles for spacing and clarity. All inquiries should be addressed to Mari Tototzintle, Director of St. Olaf Upward Bound, St. Olaf College, 1520 St. Olaf Avenue, Northfield, MN 55057-1098.

St. Olaf College TRiO Upward Bound is an Educational Opportunity Program sponsored by St. Olaf College and funded by the United States Department of Education. St. Olaf College TRiO Upward Bound is an equal opportunity employer and educator. St. Olaf TRiO Upward Bound participates in the Summer Food Service Program for Children. In accordance with Federal Law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Stop 9410, Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call toll-free at (866) 632-9992 (English) or (800) 877-8339 (TDD) or (866) 3778642 (English Federal-relay) or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish Federal-relay)USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

TRiO Programs/Upward Bound St. Olaf College 1520 St. Olaf Avenue Northfield, MN 55057-1098 (507) 786-3708 FAX: (507) 786-3552 (800) 827-8658 www.stolaf.edu/services/upward www.stolaf.edu/services/trio www.mntrio.org