RCC Upward Bound Honors Class of 2024 at Senior Banquet

The Riverside City College Upward Bound Senior Banquet for the class of 2024 was held at the RCC cafeteria on Tuesday, May 21, at 6pm. Over 100 attendees, including students, family, friends, and Upward Bound staff, gathered to celebrate 52 graduating students from Jurupa Valley High School, Patriot High School, and Rubidoux High School in the Jurupa Unified School District.

Approximately one-fourth of the graduates will attend RCC in the fall. Other popular colleges for the graduates include UC Riverside, CSU San Bernardino, Cal Poly Pomona, CSU Fullerton, UC San Diego, UC Irvine, and UCLA.

“These students and their families have worked extremely hard these past four years to realize their dreams of going to college. Their perseverance is admirable as they started their high school career during the COVID-19 pandemic. My staff and I are grateful that we were there to help and guide them along the way. We couldn’t be prouder of their accomplishment,” said José L. Díaz, Director of Upward Bound Programs at RCC.

The Upward Bound Program, a federally funded TRIO program through the Department of Education, is under the leadership of Interim VP Dr. Thomas Cruz-Soto at RCC. The program's current grant cycle runs through 2027. Staff members include José Díaz, Director; Karina Ambriz, Outreach Specialist; and Miguel Zarate, Outreach Specialist.

Upward Bound at RCC provides essential support to participants in preparing for college entrance. The program serves high school students from low-income families and those whose parents do not hold bachelor's degrees. Its goal is to increase the rate at which participants complete secondary education and subsequently enroll in and graduate from postsecondary institutions.