USC Lancaster Upward Bound

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USC Lancaster Upward Bound

USC Lancaster Upward Bound prepares select AJHS, Buford, and LHS students for college success.

08/23/2026

📣💙 PARENT & PARTICIPANT DROP-IN 💛📣

Upward Bound parents and participants, stop by and see us this Tuesday! Join our staff for an informal drop-in where you can ask questions, learn more about the project, and connect with the team that supports our participants throughout the year.

📅 Tuesday, August 25
⏰ 4:00–6:00 p.m.
📍 TRiO Learning Resource Center
Room 132 of USCL Medford Library | USC Lancaster

🥤 Light refreshments will be served, and one parent will receive our Parent Giveaway Basket!

We look forward to seeing you there! 💙💛

Andrew Jackson High School
Buford High School
Lancaster County Partners for Youth
Lancaster County School District
Lancaster High School SC
Lancaster Promise Neighborhood

08/16/2026

🔒🎓 FOCUS. FINISH. FUND YOUR FUTURE. 🎓🔒

Lancaster Promise Neighborhood and Upward Bound participants from Andrew Jackson High School, Buford High School, and Lancaster High School SC joined Early Start 2026 students from the Opportunity Scholars Program of USC Lancaster earlier today for the SC TRIO Scholarship Lock-In. Together, these young scholars dedicated focused time to searching for scholarships, strengthening applications, and taking concrete steps toward making college more affordable.

Events like this are exactly what Federal TRiO Programs are about — bringing students together, surrounding them with support, and turning college aspirations into attainable plans. We’re thrilled with the effort our participants invested today and excited to see where that work leads. 💙💛💰

Lancaster County Partners for Youth
Lancaster County School District
USC Lancaster

08/02/2026

☀️ Through USC Lancaster‘s partnership with Lancaster Promise Neighborhood (LPN), the 2026 Upward Bound Summer Experience came to a close Friday with our Summer Celebration at Frankie's Fun Parks in Huntersville, NC — followed that evening by the LPN Parent Pep Rally.

Over the past several weeks, participants have discovered new possibilities, while exploring, learning, serving, and strengthening friendships — all in an effort to prepare for what comes next. We are deeply grateful to all the community partners, faculty, families, presenters, and staff who helped make this summer so meaningful.

As the 2026-27 school year begins tomorrow, we are proud of everything our participants accomplished and excited to continue supporting them as they carry this summer’s confidence, knowledge, and momentum back into Andrew Jackson High School, Buford High School, and Lancaster High School SC.

Here’s to another tremendous Summer Experience — and an outstanding new school year! ⭐🚀

Lancaster County Partners for Youth
Lancaster County School District

07/30/2026

🧭💼🚀 Today marked the final session of the 2026 Upward Bound Internship Academy. We were pleased to welcome Ryleigh Jackson, Director of Marketing and Inclusion Strategy with Primary Talent Partners, back to USC Lancaster. As a former USCL colleague, her return made the final session especially meaningful.

Ryleigh encouraged participants to begin pursuing internships now and shared practical guidance on building résumés, finding opportunities, preparing for interviews, securing references, and using platforms such as Handshake and LinkedIn. Drawing from her own career journey, she also reminded these current Buford High School and Lancaster High School SC students that professional paths are rarely linear and that new opportunities, relationships, and skills often lead in unexpected directions.

Throughout the summer, Internship Academy participants learned from professionals across business, communications, education, finance, government, insurance, nonprofit leadership, performing arts, and other fields. Together, these sessions connected academic preparation with college, career, and adult-life expectations while helping participants build confidence and professional awareness.

We are deeply grateful to Ryleigh and every presenter who invested in our participants this summer. The Internship Academy may be complete, but the connections, encouragement, and knowledge gained through this initiative will continue well into the new school year and beyond.

07/29/2026

🎓 Leadership isn’t a separate lesson — it’s how every tenet is delivered.

On the eve of another school year, Dr. Norris Williams — Superintendent of the Lancaster County School District — joined us for yesterday’s session of the Upward Bound Internship Academy.

Dr. Williams challenged participants to view student leadership as the connective thread running through every part of the Upward Bound experience — from academic preparation and college readiness to financial literacy, mentorship, and personal growth. He highlighted the accountability, advocacy, collaboration, communication, confidence, and goal-setting skills participants develop when they step forward to lead.

Drawing from his own journey as a student leader, Dr. Williams also emphasized the importance of becoming well-rounded, preparing for college early, and seeking opportunities to serve. He shared practical lessons about persistence, scholarships, and the value of planning ahead for the financial responsibilities of a college education.

As our participants return to school, his message was timely. Leadership is not simply a title. It is reflected not only in how these high school students communicate, prepare, and serve — but in how they carry themselves each day.

Thank you, Dr. Williams, for investing in our young scholars and helping them begin the new school year with confidence and purpose! 💙💛

07/28/2026

🏛️🌎📚

Earlier today, Lancaster Promise Neighborhood and Upward Bound participants visited the Native American Studies Center to learn about the history of our region’s indigenous peoples through artifacts, exhibits, and historical interpretation.

A special thank you to Dr. Stephen Criswell, Director of the NASC, who graciously opened the center exclusively for our group and personally led the tour — even though it was closed to the public today. We are truly grateful for his generosity and for sharing his expertise and knowledge with our participants.

The visit provided an engaging opportunity to explore an important chapter of South Carolina history while seeing how archives, museums, and research centers interpret and preserve the past.

Following the tour, the group enjoyed lunch together at Applebee's Grill + Bar before returning to the USC Lancaster main campus. 🍽️

The 2026 Upward Bound Summer Experience continues to introduce participants to educational opportunities beyond the classroom while encouraging critical thinking, curiosity, and lifelong learning.

Andrew Jackson High School
Buford High School
Lancaster County Partners for Youth
Lancaster County School District
Lancaster High School SC

07/27/2026

🧱🚀🔬 BUILDING, EXPLORING, AND REACHING FOR THE STARS!

This past Experiential Friday, Lancaster Promise Neighborhood and Upward Bound participants traveled to Charlotte for an exciting day at Discovery Place Science. They explored the museum’s interactive exhibits, including Brick Masters Studio — where creativity, design, engineering, and problem-solving came together one brick at a time.

Participants also experienced APOLLO 11: FIRST STEPS EDITION in 70mm at the Charlotte IMAX Dome Theatre. The documentary short brought the historic mission to life on the giant dome screen and offered an unforgettable look at the people and preparation behind humanity’s first steps on the Moon. 🌕👨‍🚀

After a full morning of discovery, the group enjoyed a fantastic lunch at Mellow Mushroom. 🍕🍄

Experiential Fridays like this allow our participants to connect classroom learning with new environments, real-world possibilities, and shared experiences — and this day delivered all three. It’s just further proof that at USC Lancaster!!!

Andrew Jackson High School
Buford High School
Lancaster County Partners for Youth
Lancaster County School District
Lancaster High School SC

07/24/2026

🎭 Our Upward Bound Internship Academy spent an engaging afternoon yesterday with Tyrie Rowell as they explored the world of performing arts, theater production, and the award-winning USC Lancaster Players.

More than a discussion about careers in the arts, Tyrie challenged our participants from Andrew Jackson High School and Lancaster High School SC to embrace creativity, find their confidence, and recognize theater as a place of belonging and community. Through music, improvisation, and interactive exercises in both collaboration and self-expression, they stepped outside their comfort zones while experiencing the power of performance and storytelling firsthand.

From exploring the theater space to discovering new ways to communicate and connect with others, it was an unforgettable experience for our young scholars. Thank you, Tyrie, for sharing your passion, talents, and time with the next generation of creators and leaders!

🎬🎨🎶✨

07/22/2026

🎙️ From communications and marketing to creativity and critical thinking, today’s session of the Upward Bound Internship Academy challenged participants from Andrew Jackson High School and Lancaster High School SC to think differently about careers, opportunities, and their own potential.

We were delighted to welcome Jenna Woods — Director of Communications and Marketing for Lancaster County Government — who shared her career journey, the unexpected turns that shaped it, and the lessons she wishes someone had told her sooner. Participants explored branding, communications strategy, and the wide range of skills that contribute to success in virtually any profession.

Jenna encouraged our participants to remain curious, say yes to new opportunities, develop strong people and writing skills, and remember that they don’t have to have their entire lives figured out at 18 — or even 22. Perhaps most importantly, she reminded them that communications is about much more than social media — it’s about building relationships, making meaningful connections, and telling stories.

Thank you, Jenna, for investing in the next generation of leaders and helping our young scholars envision the many paths their futures may hold! Moments like these are further evidence that at USC Lancaster!!!

Address

476 Hubbard Drive
Lancaster, SC
29720

Telephone

+18033137461

Website

https://www.sc.edu/about/system_and_campuses/lancaster/study/student_opportunities/trio/upward_bound_program/index.php

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