Being in Project Upward Bound provides endless opportunities for social enrichment. Since it services three high schools, participants regularly interact with students from other communities. Living in the residence hall during the Summer Academy helps PUB to become one big family. It also provides an environment where there are people from all types of social backgrounds; and participants have to learn how to interact with them appropriately, especially in the dining hall, classroom, administration buildings, and the recreation center.
Social enrichment activities also include visiting with and hosting other Upward Bound Programs, attending social functions such as the local NAACP banquet, and inviting participants in other academically focused pre-college programs to appropriate PUB activities. In addition, PUB has a very active Parent Association that organizes activities such as Family Fun Day, Annual Community Service Day, and the Annual Scholarship Gospelfest. This way, participants get an opportunity to socialize and give their non-PUB friends a peek at the Project while raising funds for scholarships and providing service to those in greater need than themselves.
In the Summer Academy, participants receive formal training in Conflict Resolution. There is an active Student Council that represents the students in negotiating issues with the administration. Participants are taught appropriate dress and body language, public and conversational speaking, behavior, hygiene, and etiquette so that they can feel comfortable in a variety of social situations.
By the time participants graduate from PUB, they are a lot more "polished" than when they came in!
Leadership Development
During the Summer Academy, rising seniors receive intense training in leadership development. Then in the fall, delegates are chosen from among seniors to represent PUB at the Annual Regional Student Leadership Conference held in Illinois. It is sponsored by the Mid-America Association of Educational Opportunity Program Personnel (MAEOPP). This conference provides interactions with TRiO participants from a ten-state region in a para-professional setting.
In the spring, select juniors participate in the State Student Leadership Summit in celebration of National TRiO Day. This activity is sponsored by the Michigan Chapter of MAEOPP.
PUB delegates have represented the program well by earning accolades as orators, student leaders, scholars, and entertainers.
BEYOND PUB!
A number of PUB alumni make Oakland University their choice for post secondary education. "Beyond PUB" is an official student organization of individuals with like values, whose goals are consistent with those of the Project: academic, social, cultural, and career achievement. Members of Beyond PUB not only socialize but study together, attend events together, and provide tutorial services at Project Upward Bound College Clubs in each of the target schools. The organization is open to TRiO alumni, regardless of the project in which they participated.
