Upward Bound and Educational Talent Search staff who attended the conference. Front row from left, Kacie Burk, Elaine Benson and Susan Webb. Back row from left, Miguel Correa and Tracey Vasquez.

Upward Bound students on a field trip.

The Chickasaw Foundation Upward Bound and Educational Talent Search staff attended the 34th Annual Southwest Association of Student Assistance Programs (SWASAP) conference in Albuquerque, NM on November 13th-16th. The conference theme was “Celebrating 40 Years of Reaching for the Stars!” Guest speakers included Dr. Arnold Mitchem, President of the Council for Opportunities in Education; Lucy Jones, Chair of the Council for Opportunities in Education and Coordinator of Trio Programs at Rich Mountain Community College in Mena, Arkansas; and Larry Oxendine, Director of Federal Trio Programs and a member of the federal government’s Senior Executive Service. Staff attending included Susan Webb, Tracey Vasquez, Elaine Benson, Kaci Burke and Miguel Correa.

The Chickasaw Foundation Upward Bound senior students attended Oklahoma University’s Sooner Saturday on November 19th. The opening session included a welcome from the OU band and cheerleaders, and President David Boren who gave a message on the progress the University has made, and encouraged the prospective students to make OU their college choice. The students then toured the campus and visited the departments they were interested in for their college major. Students attending were Shane Woolly, Kim Lewis, Heather Baker, J.R. Wyler, Nick Lambert and Kayla Lafferty. Staff attending included Tracey Vasquez, Susan Webb and Rici Love.