LILLINGTON - Over 60 students from high schools throughout Harnett County recently completed a journey that not only enriched their lives, but also helped place them at the threshold of a college education.

Central Carolina Community College's Upward Bound Math and Science (UBMS) program held its recognition ceremony at Campbell University on Tuesday, Aug. 2, to celebrate the accomplishments of the young scholars who successfully completed the program of intensive math and science training, counseling and mentoring, and exposure to college life.

The UBMS program, one of eight TRiO programs funded by the U.S. Department of Education, is designed to strengthen the math and science skills of participating students. The goal of the program is to help students recognize and develop their potential to excel in math and science and to encourage them to pursue postsecondary degrees in math and science, and ultimately careers in the math and science profession.

CCCC's UBMS program was launched in 2012 with grant money from the U.S. Department of Education. Each year, the college receives $249,991 to operate the program. The college also operates three other TRiO programs -- a Veterans Upward Bound program, serving veterans interested in returning to college; and two Student Support Services programs, which assist current CCCC students along their journey to college graduation and university transfer.

This year's UBMS program services spanned a range of secondary grade levels. Graduated high school seniors were able to take college-credit courses in math and English at Central Carolina Community College and travel for cultural enrichment to New York City. Rising seniors were placed in six-week internships in their communities where they consulted with professional mentors in their various fields of interest such as business, education, engineering, and medicine. Rising juniors took part in a six-week program at both CCCC and overnight at Campbell University to prepare for the college experience. The students took courses in math, science, English, and foreign language in preparation for their academic work next year, participated in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) workshops with CCCC faculty, studied for the ACT and SAT college exams, prepared for the college application process, and toured numerous colleges.

In his presentation, rising senior Trezivont Woods, of Harnett Central High School, shared with the audience a reflection on this internship experience: "My internship has been truly rewarding in all areas. I observed and assisted in surgeries, for instance seeing what cancer looks like in dogs, removing ears that were too long, dental cleaning, to delivering baby kittens by way of cesarean birth and putting dogs down that were in critical condition." He said that through his internship, he has "learned how to interact in a work setting and how to create lasting interpersonal relationships between co-workers." When asked how his internship experience will impact his future plans, he noted, "This internship has only made me want to pursue medicine more. It has ensured my belief that a career in Biotechnology is what I am destined to have and to pursue."

Alyssa Cochran-Trull, a rising junior at Western Harnett High School, also spoke during the ceremony. "The TRiO program has helped me as student grow and gain a better meaning of what and where I am taking my life," she said. "It makes us, as students, strive to become more, to push past boundaries that we thought we couldn't achieve. I know, as a student, I have grown. I have a better understanding of where I am going to take my direction in life. UBMS has helped us as students and gives us an opportunity to get a head start to achieve our dreams and go to college."

Sixty-six students participated in the UBMS program this year and five new students were inducted during the ceremony. "This is a night to celebrate our students and all of their achievements this summer," said Ashley Tittemore, Executive Director of College Access Programs at CCCC. "We are so proud of each of them for their commitment to this program and to their own futures."

For more information about the Upward Bound Math and Science program at CCCC, visit the website at www.cccc.edu/ubms, email UBMS at ubms@cccc.edu, or call 919-718-7463.