Upward Bound Alaska

09/05/2026

Welcome back to school, Upward Bound students! We are excited about what lies ahead and looking forward to supporting your growth this year!

Be on the lookout for meeting times and workshop dates!

https://youtube.com/shorts/nV-SwJNcLNo?si=9WgkxONoeSNIIWjj

of Alaska Fairbanks

Maybe you already know what you want to do after high school. Maybe...

07/27/2026

This week, our Upward Bound Math & Science students spent time on the Sitka coastline, and the mariculture industry became something they could imagine themselves doing for a living.

The week moved fast: intertidal exploration at Magic Beach, where low tide revealed a whole hidden world; snorkeling through Sitka Sound, getting an eye-level look at the ecosystem they'd only read about; hands-on work at the hatchery, collecting data on salmon fry and analyzing their growth rates like working scientists; a whale watching trip that turned textbook biology into something breathing and real; totem pole carving at UAS, connecting art, tradition, and craft; and a walk through the Sheldon Jackson Museum that grounded the science in place and history. Students learned to identify forest species alongside marine species, seeing the coastline as a single interconnected system rather than separate subjects.

Every stop held the same question: who does this work, and could that be me? Students talked with scientists, artists, and tradespeople who have built careers around Alaska's coast, and started asking sharper questions, not just "what is this," but "how do I get there, and what would I bring to it?" That shift, from observer to future contributor, is the heart of what this week was about, and the heart of the Upward Bound program.

Sitka reminded our students that Alaska's economy and ecosystems aren't separate from their own futures. They are an invitation. Whether it's marine science, resource management, education, or something not yet on their radar, the message was the same: there's a place here for you, and Alaska needs what you'll bring to it.

Thank you to Sitka Sound Science Center and every partner, including University of Alaska Southeast, who opened their doors and their expertise to our students this week. We can't wait to come back!

University of Alaska Fairbanks, UAF College of Engineering and Mines Council for Opportunity in Education - COE,

07/13/2026

Our Upward Bound students just spent a week living and learning at Toolik Field Station, one of the Arctic's premier research hubs, and it was the kind of experience that reshapes how students see themselves in science.

Beyond the incredible landscape (24 hours of daylight, tundra stretching to the horizon, the wildlife and regional plant life), students spent their days learning about field science: touring active research sites, collecting plant samples for herbarium presses, making salve, learning from working scientists and station naturalists, and assisting with data processing. They hiked permafrost gullies, visited long-term ecological monitoring plots, and sat in on conversations with researchers who've dedicated their careers to understanding this changing landscape. In addition, the staff managing the facilities, kitchen, and health clinic invited students to join them in their spaces.

What made the week powerful wasn't just the science or the career exposure. It was watching students realize they belong in these spaces. Many had never met a field researcher before, let alone worked alongside one. Throughout the trip, they were asking thoughtful questions, forming their own hypotheses, and talking about STEM careers as something real and reachable, not distant.

This is what place-based, identity-centered, and career-building programming looks like in practice. It is exactly the kind of experience Upward Bound exists to create. We are grateful to Toolik Field Station, the researchers, and the station staff for hosting our students and modeling what a life in science can look like.

For some students, the visit was embedded in an Ethnobotany course and will earn 3 college credits at the end of summer. Students also have the opportunity to apply for high school credit for this intensive at their local schools.

We are looking forward to visiting again!


Toolik Field Station University of Alaska Fairbanks UAF College of Engineering and Mines Council for Opportunity in Education - COE

07/06/2026

Last week brought a dynamic cohort of students from across Alaska to the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus for our "Alaska in Futures Engineering" summer intensive. Students had the opportunity to explore many engineering disciplines, including civil, mechanical, electrical, and environmental. Students discovered that engineering is much more than building things; it's about problem-solving that improves the lives of those around us.

One of the most meaningful parts of the week came through journal reflections. Our journals are a consistent practice with all of our summer programs. Their reflections showed a growing understanding that leadership and engineering share a common foundation: asking good questions, thinking critically, and working together to make a difference. We can't wait to see where their curiosity and problem-solving skills take them next!

We want to thank our UAF and Fairbanks community partners for their time, effort, and expertise shared with our students. Several departments and local businesses joined us to make this a huge success for our students. Thank you!

06/06/2026

As we ended our time in Washington, D.C., our Upward Bound student leaders toured the United States Capitol. It was a fitting close to a week spent exploring the history, sacrifice, and civic life that shape our nation.

Standing inside one of the most iconic symbols of American democracy, students reflected on the journey that brought them here, from community conversations in Anchorage, to memorials honoring those who gave everything, to the very building where the laws of this country are debated and decided. The Capitol wasn't just a landmark. It was a reminder that government is made up of people, and that the decisions made inside those walls affect communities like theirs back home in Alaska.

As we made our way to New York City, students took time to capture their D.C. experience in their journals, putting into words what they saw, felt, and took away from a week that asked a lot of them. Those reflections are their own, but the themes we heard echoed across every page: gratitude, purpose, and a growing sense of what they want to carry forward.

For many of our students, this week made civic engagement feel real and within reach. They leave Washington understanding that they, too, have a role to play in writing what comes next.

Next stop: New York City.

UAF College of Engineering and Mines
University of Alaska Fairbanks

06/01/2026

On Sunday, our Upward Bound student leaders carried that same spirit of reflection into one of the most powerful days of the trip.

From the solemn grounds of Arlington National Cemetery and the Changing of the Guard, to the Iwo Jima Memorial, the Pentagon 9/11 Memorial, and the historic streets of Alexandria and Mount Vernon, students were surrounded by stories of sacrifice, duty, and resilience spanning centuries of American history.

Walking the same ground where history was made from the founding era of George Washington to the heroes of World War II to the lives lost on September 11 our students began to see the full arc of what this country has been through, and what it has asked of its people. These weren't just history lessons they were personal. They were conversations about courage, loss, gratitude, and what it means to show up for something bigger than yourself.

As our students head into the second half of this journey, they carry with them not just memories, but a deeper sense of purpose rooted in where we've been as a nation. We can't wait to see how they bring these lessons home to Alaska.

05/31/2026

On Friday, our Upward Bound student leaders explored leadership, community, and civic engagement in Alaska. On Saturday they continued that journey by visiting some of our nation’s most significant memorials and monuments in Washington, D.C.

Standing at sites that honor sacrifice, service, perseverance, and the ongoing pursuit of freedom provided students with an opportunity to reflect on the individuals and events that have shaped our country. These experiences encouraged meaningful conversations about leadership, citizenship, and the responsibility each generation has to contribute to their communities.

As our students walk through history, they are gaining a deeper understanding of how ordinary people can make an extraordinary impact. We look forward to seeing how these lessons inspire them to lead and serve in Alaska and beyond.

UAF College of Engineering and Mines
Upward Bound Alaska

05/30/2026

Twenty Upward Bound student leaders kicked off our Leadership, Community, and Civics session in Anchorage before heading to the East Coast. Along the way, they explored what it means to be engaged citizens and community leaders while building connections with organizations that make a difference right here in Alaska.

A big thank you to our Anchorage partners for sharing their time, knowledge, and experiences with our students today. Your willingness to connect, inspire, and invest in the next generation helped make this an impactful start to their journey.

We are grateful for the strong community partnerships that help our students see leadership in action and discover the many ways they can make a positive impact in their own communities.

05/08/2026

Upward Bound empowers students to build their future through a college degree, a technical certification, or both.

From career exploration and in-demand certifications to getting a real feel for campus life, our students get an up-close look at the many directions their future can take.

During a recent campus experience, students discovered just how closely their communities are connected to the careers they are interested in pursuing. and left with a vision not only of where they are headed, but of how they can make a real difference when they get there.

https://youtu.be/KEDauCGY198?si=adx64iPWHlISw-sr

UAF College of Engineering and Mines Rural Student ServicesUAF Community & Technical CollegeUAF Student Support Services

Students from Bethel Regional High School and Chevak High School visited UAF in the Spring semester of 2026. They talked to our staff about what they look fo...

05/06/2026

Wisdom lives in the people around us! Our Upward Bound students at Bethel Regional High School are proving that some of the most powerful lessons come from simply sitting down and listening.

Through the "Ask the Elder" project, our young scholars connected with elders in their community, asking big questions, hearing hard-won stories, and discovering a living history.

These students aren't just preparing for post-secondary success; they are learning who they are and where they come from. And that is the foundation on which everything else is built.
UAF College of Engineering and Mines Rural Student Services UAF Student Support Services