Introduction
Forward Service Corporation has the distinction of being the only private non-profit organization in Wisconsin to establish an Upward Bound Program. Upward Bound is funded by the Department of Education under the TRIO programs. The program intent is to generate in low-income, potential first-generation college students the skills and motivation necessary to complete high school and to enter and graduate from a program of post-secondary education. There is no cost to a student’s family to apply or for services provided to an enrolled student.

Upward Bound taught me organizational skills, time management, how to be goal oriented and gave me the motivation to work for a positive future. Most of all, Upward Bound has helped me become the well rounded, hard working college student that I am today.

Hannah C.
UW Whitewater

Academic-Year Component
High expectations and standards are at the core of the Upward Bound Program. Students work collaboratively with others, improve their critical thinking skills, and become better learners. While the Upward Bound experience is demanding, the learning environment provides students with the assistance and guidance to meet those challenges. On average, classes are limited to twenty-five students. Teachers and counselors come to know students’ academic and personal strengths and talents and help students reach their full potential.

Summer Residential Component
In the first two summers of the Upward Bound program, students participate in a six-week residential component that focuses on academic and personal development. Students live in residence halls at one of three academic settings including Trees for Tomorrow, Ripon College and UW Stout and are supervised by a team of tutors and counselors. Students take higher-level classes in mathematics, science, literature and writing, foreign language and study skills and also participate in social and cultural programs and activities.

Additional Services
Upward Bound also provides each senior student with fee waivers for the ACTs, SATs, and for college and financial aid applications. Although Upward Bound does not provide financial support for students to enter college, the program does provide a great deal of assistance in helping senior students complete financial aid forms. In addition, Upward Bound counselors work with students to find sources of scholarships and other types of financial aid.

Program Accomplishments
Since 1995, the Forward Service Corporation Upward Bound program has opened the door to a more prosperous future for over 500 high school students. Our many successes include:

  • A strong, continuous history.
  • An extremely low (0.1%) high school drop out rate for enrolled students.
  • Annual application and enrollment figures demonstrating the program’s success in attracting, admitting, retaining, and graduating a diverse group of students each year.
  • Exceeding its goals for preparing high-risk students to enter and graduate from post-secondary institutions. The most recent evaluation of students who graduated from the program in the last ten years showed:
    • 100% college acceptance rate
    • 93% enrollment rate
    • 88% college graduation/retention rate
  • The program now has the financial support to enroll 205 participants each year. Once accepted, students who meet all program responsibilities are continued in Upward Bound throughout high school. Therefore, admission to Upward Bound is limited and competitive. Each year, approximately 48 new students are admitted to our programs.

Take the next step and contact Forward Service Corporation today!