Diem Ngo, the scholarship winner, will use the funds to attend the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities next fall. She attributes at least part of her success to the help she received from ARCC’s Upward Bound staff over the last two years.

“Our advisors expected a lot from us,” Ngo says. “And you try hard because you don’t want to disappoint them.”

Ngo joined the Upward Bound program as a high school junior, because she’d heard it had been helpful to other students like her.

Upward Bound is a federally funded program that offers disadvantaged students assistance toward successfully completing their high school education and enrolling in college. To be eligible, students must come from a low-income family and/or come from a family where neither parent graduated from college. Currently, ARCC’s Upward Bound works with students from Anoka, Blaine, Champlin Park, Coon Rapids, Osseo, Park Center and Spring Lake Park high schools. The program is offered at no cost to the students; ARCC can enroll as many as 100 students at a time.

During the school year, ARCC’s Upward Bound advisors travel to each enrolled student’s high school to offer individual academic tutoring and advising after school. The students then travel to ARCC for monthly Saturday workshops on such topics as planning for college, applying for financial aid, preparing for college testing, and more. A six-week summer program at ARCC offers the students an innovative learning experience, more college and career counseling, as well as access to cultural and social activities.

Cindy Nutter, ARCC’s Director of TRIO Programs, says they try to reach students as freshmen. (TRIO is the name given to all student assistance programs administered by the U.S. Department of Education.)

“The sooner we get them into the program, the more chance they have of reaching their goals,” Nutter says.

Overall, the program has a terrific track record. Nationally, the Council for Opportunity in Education reports that Upward Bound students are four times as likely to graduate from college than students from similar backgrounds who do not participate.

“Eighty percent of our high school seniors enroll successfully in the first college of their choice,” Nutter says. For herself, Ngo has some lofty goals.

“I’ve always wanted to be a doctor,” Ngo says. “And recently, I decided that being a pediatrician is what I really want - I love working with kids.”

While Ngo says she’s always excelled in school, she’s had trouble believing in herself. She credits her Upward Bound advisor, Lisa Abbey, with helping her overcome that barrier.

“Lisa worked with me to set high goals,” Ngo says. “And then she helped me gain the confidence to achieve them.”

Abbey agrees that Ngo has made great strides.

“Diem has always been very studious, very dedicated,” Abbey says. “But I’ve seen her become more focused and more comfortable in knowing what she wants to do, and in her self-confidence in being able to do it.”

As an example of her achievement, Abbey points out that as a high school senior, Ngo took a full load of college-level courses at the University of Minnesota.

“She’s more comfortable with who she is now,” Abbey sums up.

Winning the MAEOPP scholarship is yet another achievement for Ngo - and not a small one.

“MAEOPP is the regional TRIO organization that represents 10 area states,” Nutter explains. “The competition for these scholarships is extremely stiff. This is the first time in 15 years that one of our students has won.”

For more information on the Upward Bound program and other TRIO services at ARCC, contact Cindy Nutter at (763) 422-3455.