New Space Foundation Partnership with CSU – Pueblo Extends to Upward Bound Program

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Jul. 9, 2010) — Space Foundation education programs focus on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), helping to address serious gaps in U.S. science and math education and proficiency. Those efforts received a boost recently through a new Space Foundation partnership with Colorado State University – Pueblo.

In addition to offering a class for teachers at the CSU – Pueblo campus this summer, the Space Foundation also partnered with Upward Bound, CSU-Pueblo, to offer a day of rocketry and robotics classes for participating students as an integral component of the Summer Residential Academic Curriculum. The program was held July 8 at the Space Foundation Discovery Institute in Colorado Springs.

For more than two decades, the Upward Bound mission has been to provide students with academic, social, and cultural support toward high school graduation and successful admission to a post-secondary institution of their choice. Upward Bound, CSU – Pueblo, serves students at Pueblo County, Centennial, Central, South, and East high schools in Pueblo. Using a variety of year-round recruitment strategies, Upward Bound enrolls eligible, low-income or “first generation-to-college” students. Eligible students must maintain a 2.5 GPA, have a stated intention of attending college, and be in good standing at their schools. Upward Bound programs and services are free to students enrolled in the program and include year-round academic tutoring at the school sites, a six-week summer residential program hosted at CSU-Pueblo, community service activities, and leadership development.

Dr. Ismana Carney, director of Upward Bound, CSU – Pueblo, said, “This partnership with the Space Foundation provides Upward Bound students with a premier, recognized national program that encourages our students to reach for their goals of graduating from college. Many of our students are very interested in pursuing a career in science, technology, engineering, and math. Courses offered by the Space Foundation support our students’ goals.”

Pictured: Students in the Upward Bound program, CSU – Pueblo, conduct robotics experiments at the Space Foundation Discovery Institute in Colorado Springs.