Embry-Riddle Program Is a Launchpad to College Success for High Schoolers From Disadvantaged Backgrounds

Daniel Sullivan, an Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University alumnus and SkyWest Airlines pilot, recently returned to the Prescott Campus to speak to Upward Bound participating high school students, sharing how the program changed his life.

Sullivan told the students that his admission to Embry-Riddle was not guaranteed after he graduated from Bradshaw High School. He said he was “really good at math," but his reading and writing were subpar.

“But when I mentioned that I was in the Upward Bound program, Embry-Riddle’s admissions made an exception,” said Sullivan, who graduated in 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in Aeronautical Science. “Everything I have now, I owe to that exception that allowed me to go to Embry-Riddle and become the pilot I am today.”

The Upward Bound program — funded through a grant from the Department of Education — is aimed at prospective college students who are from low-income families and those who are first-generation students. It provides academic support services, including tutors, counseling and summer enrichment programs.

Mikayla Johnson proudly displays her Upward Bound diploma alongside Sheryl Gillum, director of Upward Bound at Embry-Riddle’s Prescott Campus. (Photo: Embry-Riddle/Sheryl Gillum)

Embry-Riddle’s Prescott, Arizona, campus has hosted Upward Bound for over two decades. More than 600 students from Yavapai County, home to the Prescott Campus, have benefited from the program. This past summer, the campus welcomed 35 students for five weeks of courses focused on college preparation and leadership development.

“We strive each year to enhance our program, making it more educational and enjoyable for our students,” said Sheryl Gillum, director of Upward Bound at the Prescott Campus. “We spend a lot of time talking to our participants about planning for higher education, scholarships and their future plans.”

One student benefitting from the program is Mikayla Johnson, who recently graduated from Arizona Agribusiness & Equine Center of Prescott Valley, a local high school. Johnson has been active in Upward Bound for two years, including this past summer, where she had the opportunity to take cybersecurity courses, earning her college credits.

Upward Bound alumnus Diego Yepez participated as a resident advisor and budgeting instructor this past summer. (Photo: Diego Yepez)

Johnson said her experience with Upward Bound has not only helped her prepare for the rigors of college curricula but also provided her with the skills necessary to succeed in a university setting.

During the summer program, Johnson served as an Upward Bound resident advisor assistant. The opportunity, she said, allowed her to support her peers. The role also mirrored that of a college resident advisor, a position that can significantly reduce higher education costs.

Upward Bound “has helped me gain new leadership skills, as well as helped me cement what I would like to major in,” Johnson said. “Not only that, but this program has also helped me locate the school I’d like to attend.”

She hopes to pursue a bachelor's degree in Cyber Intelligence and Security at Embry-Riddle.

Diego Yepez, a 2002 Upward Bound graduate of Pima Community College in Tucson, returned to the program at Embry-Riddle this summer as part of an effort to have alumni serve as mentors and resident advisors. 

Yepez, who described his return to the program “as incredibly rewarding,” taught a course on budgeting, a critical skill for students navigating the many costs of college. He said that he found it fulfilling to connect with students who reminded him of himself not too long ago.

“The program truly embodies the essence of guiding students toward their next step in life,” he said. “I have no doubt it will continue to impact many more lives.” 

To learn more about Upward Bound or to support this initiative, contact Sheryl Gillum at gillums@erau.edu or visit Upward Bound’s website.

Posted In: Institutional News