From Workshops to Warships: A Memorable Summer for RIT Upward Bound Students | September 2023
Twenty area high school students got a chance to call Ellingson Hall “home” in July. They took part in RIT’s Upward Bound Summer Experience, a six week summer program that includes two weeks on campus. Students get a taste of what college life is really like. One early lesson learned: how to adjust to living in a dorm.
Victor Davidson, program director for Upward Bound said, “Three RIT students were hired as Summer Peer Counselors. They lived in the dorms and supported the students on all aspects including transporting them to and from classes, workshops, meals, field trips, and activities! The peer counselors conducted presentations that included their majors, career paths, and their own personal experiences on campus. Our student counselor’s majors included Cyber Security, Civil Engineering Technology, and Mathematics & Computer Science.”
Davidson said classes in the areas of math, science and English are offered. RIT faculty that took part this summer included Katrina Overby, assistant professor, School of Communication, Robert Osgood, associate professor, Biomedical Sciences Program, Michael Cromer associate professor School of Mathematics and Statistics and Pratik Dholabhai, assistant professor from RIT’s School of Physics and Astronomy. In addition, there were a variety of workshops and presentations offered by the Academic Support Center, Peer Navigator’s from the McNair’s Scholars Program and RIT Ambulance.
However, it wasn’t “all work and no play” for the students. Davidson says they also made time for some enrichment field trips.
“We took a field trip to the Buffalo Navy Shipyard and Museum where we toured three warships that saw action in WW2 and other American battles. The USS Little Rock, USS The Sullivans, and Submarine the USS Croaker!”