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It was a glittering night for the Most Improved, Rising Stars, A-T.E.A.M, Outstanding Scholars and more as they paraded across the stage to cheers and applause on Thursday, May 11 during the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Upward Bound Scholars Academy (UBSA) Collinsville High School’s (CHS) Awards Ceremony. 

“I was just trying to do my best. I was surprised to learn I was the valedictorian,” said Keira Winterich, UBSA senior. Winterich’s grade point average is 4.31. She plans to attend SIUE in the fall and enroll in the pre-veterinarian program.

“I am 100 times more confident that I can do great things in college because of Upward Bound,” Winterich said in her speech at the awards ceremony. “Also, Upward Bound helped me a lot during COVID. I was having a hard time and was feeling isolated, but I had a community to lean on. Specifically, Mr. Greg (Johnson II, UBSA counselor and social emotional services supervisor) helped me through quite a bit.”

“Anytime I had a problem, I would talk to Mr. Greg,” said UBSA junior Brian Castro, awards ceremony emcee. “He knows a lot about the college process and everything. Mrs. Yvonne (Hart, UBSA program director), was equally important in helping me find my way.” Castro, who received awards in the categories of Honor Roll and A-T.E.A.M, plans to major in industrial engineering with a business minor at the University of Illinois-Champaign.

UBSA senior Jynicia McDonald captured the 2023 Outstanding Scholar Award. “I’m very grateful and surprised,” she said. McDonald also received awards in the categories of Honor Roll, Scholar of the Month and A-T.E.A.M. She plans to major in early childhood education at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

“This is an excellent program,” said Joanna Kelly, mother of UBSA sophomore Jourdan Brocksmith. “We love the program a lot. Jourdan’s grades have improved a lot, and I’ve seen his confidence grow since he’s been in Upward Bound. He has like-minded peers to be around and is more excited about attending college.” Brocksmith received a Rising Stars and an A-T.E.A.M award.

Graduates of the Class of 2023 shared praise the program and shared advice in a videotape played during the awards ceremony.

Some of the responses included: “Feeling like I have a community … Getting the motivation to work towards the future … Learning how to communicate with people … Helped me do better in school with time management … Exposed me to college … Helped me better understand the financial aspects of college … Take advantage of the tutors … Stay on top of your assignments … Become involved … Stay friends with everyone because it makes the program more fun.”

UBSA graduating seniors:

• Dominique Cortes
• Diana Fabian
• Taylor Foote’
• Ashley Garcia-Guzman
• Isaiah Hart
• Ramiyah Jackson
• Leah Jones
• Eliza Martinez-Canseco
• Jynicia McDonald
• Brooke Smith
• Ryan Smith
• Vanessa Villa
• Aidan Walls
• J’Kuion West
• Keira Winterich

Upward Bound Scholars Academy (UBSA) is a TRIO program federally funded by the U.S. Department of Education. UBSA serves Collinsville High School students, ages 14-19, from low-income families and from families in which neither parent holds a bachelor’s degree. The goal of Upward Bound is to increase the rate at which participants complete secondary education and enroll in and graduate from institutions of postsecondary education.

Photos:
UBSA valedictorian Keira Winterich.

(TOP): Rising Stars Jourdan Brocksmith, Roselyn Sanchez and Darnell Jones. (BOTTOM): A-T.E.A.M members/award winners UBSA Counselor Greg Johnson II, Brian Castro, Sanchez, John Easley, Cheyenne Duke, Samuel Hibbard, Gregory Wicks, Brocksmith, Diana Fabian, Ramiyah Jackson, Lessly Rodriguez-Garcia, Jynicia McDonald, El Warren and Isabel Perez.

(TOP): Honor Roll winners Sanchez, Perez, Jennifer Canseco, Castro, Yared Benitez, Darnell Jones, Madyson Mitchell, McDonald, Zuleyri Medina, Aiden Montgomery, Rodriguez-Garcia and El Warren. (BOTTOM): Outstanding Scholars include Benitez, Sanchez and McDonald. Not shown are Perez and Diana Fabian.