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September/October 2008 News

October 11: Cirque du Soleil is coming to NKU and We’re Going!

The Saturday, October 11 meeting begins at 1 p.m. in Landrum 506 and will end at 6:30 p.m.  We will attend Cirque du Soleil’s production of  Saltimbanco as part of the meeting since it will be at the newly finished Bank of Kentucky Center on campus.  Cirque du Soleil (Circus of the Sun) produces spectacular shows that emphasize acrobatics, high wire acts, gymnastics, and live music that is a cross between world music and alternative rock.  There is clowning, but these aren’t the usual circus clowns.  Instead, they’re performers that are from an Italian tradition called Commedia dell’Arte so they’re more likely to perform tricks or skits or participate with a couple of audience members.  These shows are   always amazing.  They’re literally jaw dropping and breathtaking.

The tickets are expensive.  Students must let us know by Wednesday,   October 8 at 442-3520 if they’re not able to attend due to a pre-existing conflict.  Students who are sick on Saturday, October 11 need to call in by 10 a.m.  Students who miss this meeting without informing us by one of these deadlines will forfeit their next stipend.  James Ballard and Maureen Beach have already told us they will not be able to attend.

Seniors and Juniors:  Cincinnati National College Fair at Duke Energy Center (Cincinnati Convention Center) on Sunday, Oct. 12, 1-4p.m.  Workshops include SAT preparation, Money Matters, Financial Aid & Scholarships, Paying for College.  Universities and colleges from over thirty states will have booths or tables.

Seniors: We have ACT Fee Waivers if you need them!

Welcome Sophormores!

New Sophomores and their parents attended the August 23 Orientation.  Students and parents both had a chance to find out more about the program and to meet with one another.  Three program alumni (Michael Fuehner, Becky Roberts, and Laura Teegarden) shared their impressions of high school, college, graduate school, and the working world and the ways in which Upward Bound helped them to achieve their goals.  Welcome to the following new students:

Gallatin—Sally Bishop, Brandy Chapman, Marlina Jones, Lynsey Matthews, Tiffany Wilson

Holmes—Timothy Brown, Patricia Hughes

Newport—Jake Collins, Dionte’ Glenn, Special Hankerson, Gena Hayes, Tina Lynch, Maya Malone, Isis Solomon, Alysa Wilfong

Pendleton—Janet Baxter, Sharon Mayes, Miranda Wrobleski

Simon Kenton—Felicia Bradshaw, Zachery Carroll, Andrea Chisenhall, Samara Metcalf, Maranda Phelps, Sage Powell, Glenn Pryor

Senior's Impression of Chicago

The Senior Trip to Chicago was September 14-16.  Because of the weather (lots of rain, though we had electricity), the trip schedule kept changing but we covered all the activities we’d planned.  These included visits to the Field Museum, the Voting Rights Museum, Chinatown, the Sears Tower, Navy Pier, Tony ‘n’ Tina’s Wedding, and Second City.  We saw sights by taking the boat ride along the lake, the double-decker bus tour around the Loop (the central downtown business district) and the elevated train or L as it’s called locally where I was frustrated with the ticket machine and the attendant.  We asked the seniors a series of questions and here are some of their responses:

What was your favorite aspect of the trip?

Ashlee Dorning: I loved being exposed to all the different cultures (such as Chinatown).  It really opened my eyes and made me realize there are totally different ways of life outside of Kentucky.

Amanda Wetter: My favorite aspects of the trip were Chinatown and Second City.  I loved how we were immersed in the culture.  It was like we had been teleported to China (and I loved Second City because I love to laugh).

Megan Rose: My favorite aspect of the trip was the sight seeing from Sears Tower.  It was beautiful and amazing.

Maureen Beach: “Tony and Tina’s Wedding” because it was very interactive with the audience which I liked.  Plus, it wasn’t really like a play; it was fun and lively.

Joel Gifford: Going to the Comedy Club—Second City.

Troy Brown: Chinatown was an amazing place.  I have to revisit.

Kate Liebisch: Walking through downtown Chicago, the new experience of riding on a double-decker bus and the variety of people made this trip amazing.

What will you remember about the trip?

Mary Ann Mullins: Riding on the El and being barely able to stand.  Riding and listening to the bus and boat tours.

Allie McKinney: I will remember how breathtaking the lake was.

James Ballard:  I’ll remember Second City and riding a train for the first time, dressed in Chinese robes.

Melina Thomas: I will never forget getting scared at   Second City during the show “Jumping Joan.”  (Melina was pulled into an audience participation sketch).

Crystal Schweitzer: I will definitely not forget James & Troy in Chinese suits.

Rob Goderwis: The L because it was a pain in the butt.

Rachel Knudsen: I will remember the fun I had with the amazing, charming people of Upward Bound.

What is your impression of Chicago?

Ashley Riggs: There a lot of different cultures.  There were a lot of people who were driving too many speedy cars.

Katherine Manning: I think this city is too busy for its own good.  People drive like lunatics here, and I would never live here.  But I will for sure come back to visit.

Jazmine Gunsauley: Expensive.

Eva Davis: It’s very busy and chaotic.

Kammi Neyman: Chicago is a beautiful city but is very expensive to live in.  Everything is ridiculously priced.  Chicago is also a highly diverse city.  When we were walking down the street, you were able to hear a different language everywhere you turned.

SENIORS:  We have ACT Fee Waivers if you need them!

Student Spotlight

This month’s spotlight falls on Ashlee Dorning.  Ashlee is a senior at Simon Kenton High School.  She’s considering a career in law, which makes sense because she always has something intelligent to discuss.  She works with an intense focus at her job at Burlington Coat Factory.

In my earlier school days, I was known as “that girl in the back of the room.”  My friends enjoy me because I’m really funny and I am the party!  I wish I could go to the moon.  I’m disappointed when I get anything less than an ‘A.’  I feel I’ve really accomplished something when I stick with hard things and get them done.  A quality I most admire in other people is not letting people push you around and standing up for what you believe in because it shows you are a strong person and value your beliefs.  I would most like to be remembered by my honesty and compassion towards people also my work ethic and my drive to do well.  My family is important to me because they give me support.  A positive influence in my life is my grandma because she taught me life lessons at an early age.

Help With Community Service Project

At last year’s December meeting, we completed a community service project by bringing in small gifts to put in shoeboxes.  These boxes were delivered to Welcome House in Covington and to Brighton Center in Newport so that they could distribute them to children for Christmas.  We plan to do this project again this year.

We are asking that each student spend no more than $5—$6.  To be sure we have enough items to fill the boxes, we have divided the items by school.  Please look at the list below and bring the two items indicated to the December 6 meeting.  We will wrap the shoeboxes as part of the meeting. 

Check the “Dollar” stores for the items indicated and remember to “think shoebox size.”  Choose something appropriate for a child between 3 and 6 years of age.

All students at all schools:  a small toy that will fit in a shoebox (girls bring a girl’s toy and boys, a boy’s toy)

Newport and Simon Kenton:  Crayons

Owen, Gallatin, & Holmes : Small Coloring or Activity book    
                 
Pendleton:  Pair of Gloves or Hat