Yuma News Now

Yuma, Arizona - Arizona Western College announced today locally owned scrapbooking and card making store, Memento’s, has donated over $1,400 worth of scrap booking supplies for the Upward Bound Summer Program held on the AWC campus each summer.

This summer the area high school students involved in the Upward Bound program will design their own yearbooks as one of the numerous projects. And with the generosity of Lisa Nickle, owner of Memento’s, the students will have the ability to create their yearbooks with new materials. The students will have the chance to use brand new supplies donated from the store.

“Memento’s is very excited to have the opportunity to partner with AWC and the Upward Bound students this year. We hope the supplies that we are donating to the program will open their eyes to the creativity within…” said Nickle. “The students have the talent. These supplies will allow them to make it a reality.”

Upward Bound is a federal grant awarded to colleges and universities to work with high school students who are low income and/or first generation (meaning neither parent has a 4-year degree). AWC serves 70 students at Yuma, Kofa, Cibola, San Luis and Parker High schools, who are planning on going to college for a four-year degree and provides fundamental support to the participants in their preparation for college entrance. Students normally are recruited in the 9th grade and continue through high school graduation.

Participants in Upward Bound attend weekly meetings at their school during the school year to help them become more successful in their academic career. Students then attend a 6-week residential camp held at Arizona Western College each summer. The camp includes academic classes and skill building seminars. Students also have opportunities to take part in work-study positions and job shadowing with local businesses in the community.