LILLINGTON - Over 60 students from high schools throughout Harnett County recently completed a journey that not only enriched their lives, but helped place them at the threshold of a college education.

Central Carolina Community College's Upward Bound Math and Science (UBMS) program held its recognition ceremony at Campbell University to celebrate the accomplishments of the young scholars who successfully completed the program of intensive math and science training, counseling and mentoring, and exposure to college life.

The UBMS program, one of eight TRiO programs funded by the U.S. Department of Education, is designed to strengthen the math and science skills of participating students. The goal of the program is to help students recognize and develop their potential to excel in math and science and to encourage them to pursue postsecondary degrees in math and science, and ultimately careers in the math and science profession.

CCCC's UBMS program was launched in 2012 with grant money from the U.S. Department of Education. Each year, the college receives $249,991 to operate the program. The college also operates a Veterans Upward Bound TRiO program. Recently the college received two new TRiO Student Support Services grants in the amount of $2.2 million over the next five years to support CCCC students in their pursuit of academic success and graduation from a post-secondary program.

This year's UBMS program services spanned a range of secondary grade levels. Graduated high school seniors were able to take courses at Central Carolina Community College and travel for cultural enrichment to New York City. Rising seniors were placed in six-week internships in their communities where they consulted with professional mentors in their various fields of interest such as health care management, emergency services, and veterinary medicine. Rising juniors took part in a six-week program at both CCCC and overnight at Campbell University to prepare for the college experience. The students took courses in math, science, English, and foreign language in preparation for their academic work next year, participated in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) workshops with CCCC faculty, studied for the ACT and SAT college exams, prepared for the college application process, and toured numerous colleges.

Juniors Tyra Williams, of Triton High School, and Nataniel Brown, of Overhills High School, explained the math project they worked on during the summer, one of many on display at the celebration. The project employed quadratics, trigonometry, and logarithms to design a dress mathematically. Both students said they got involved in UBMS to prepare for college and better their lives.

"This program absolutely helped me get a good preview of what I can learn next year as a senior and gave me great exposure to college life," said Brown. "I learned a lot about different colleges and which ones might be a good fit for me."

A total of 66 students completed their UBMS program and another 34 students were inducted. "We are so proud of each and every group who participated this evening, from our graduating seniors to our students who conducted internships to our 10th graders who participated in workshops," said Ashley Tittemore, Director of TRiO Programs at CCCC.

To UBMS Elective Instructor Robert Immormino, the experience was very gratifying. Immormino taught a STEM lab workshop in which students explored chemical and biochemical reactions. "I enjoyed working with the students with the goal of making science approachable and giving them an opportunity for success," said Immormino. "It was a lot of fun."

For more information about the Upward Bound Math and Science program at CCCC, visit the website at www.cccc.edu/ubms, email UBMS at ubms@cccc.edu or call (919) 718-7463.