Upward Bound Classic & Math Science Programs

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Upward Bound Classic & Math Science Programs Proudly preparing income-qualified, first-generation WCSD & LCSD students for success in high school, college, life, and beyond since 1967!

The Upward Bound Programs of the University of Nevada, Reno provide 246 first-generation, income-qualified students with a comprehensive and enriching educational experience that prepares our students for success in high school, college, life, and beyond. Currently, our grants serve Hug, North Valleys, Fernley, Silver Springs, Sparks, Spanish Springs, Reed, and Wooster High Schools in the Lyon and Washoe County School Districts. Our program is designed to equip students with the academic skills, leadership, professional development, critical thinking abilities, and personal qualities necessary to excel in higher education and thrive in their future careers.

Check out these amazing Upward Bound alumni!Our Class of 2026 graduates have officially started their out-of-state colle...
09/25/2026

Check out these amazing Upward Bound alumni!

Our Class of 2026 graduates have officially started their out-of-state college journeys, and they’ve been THRIVING ever since!

Here’s a little update on what they’ve been up to:

1️⃣ Nevaeh | University of Virginia
Nevaeh has started her journey at UVA, where she plans to pursue Public Policy and Leadership. She’s been enjoying the beautiful green scenery, football games, and campus life. She’s already getting involved with investment clubs, women’s organizations, and even The Jefferson Independent, a student newspaper!

2️⃣ Treasure | Barnard College
Treasure has officially begun her journey at Barnard College and has been loving every minute of it! She’s proud to be part of the campus community and has been taking advantage of as many extracurricular opportunities as possible. She plans to pursue Medical Anthropology and Neuroscience.

3️⃣ Nando | University of San Diego
Nando has started his journey at the University of San Diego, where he plans to pursue Law and Political Science. Between the beautiful campus, his stylish dorm, and San Diego community, he’s loving college life — especially being able to go to class and head to the beach right after!

4️⃣ Vince | Mohave College
Vince has been soaking up the Arizona sunshine at Mohave College, where he’s pursuing higher education while continuing to play the sport he loves. He’s looking toward a future that combines his passion for sports and education and is ready to CRUSH midterm season!

5️⃣ Leila | BYU–Hawaii
Leila has been loving life in beautiful Hawaii while pursuing Sociology and Hawaiian Studies. She’s been exploring her roots, embracing her culture more than ever, and building her future along the way!

We are SO proud of each and every one of you and cannot wait to see you continue to conquer the world. Keep chasing your dreams, taking advantage of every opportunity, and showing the world what you’re capable of.

Thank you for being proof that TRIO Works and that our dreams can extend far beyond home! 💙

Meet the newest members of our Academic Success Center team! We are so excited to welcome Mosies “Moi” and Guillaine “Gi...
08/12/2026

Meet the newest members of our Academic Success Center team! We are so excited to welcome Mosies “Moi” and Guillaine “Gigi” as our new Graduate Assistant Literacy Specialists!

Moi is a proud Upward Bound alum and recently graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno with a Bachelor of Social Work. He is now continuing his journey at Nevada as he works toward his Master of Social Work. As someone who has experienced Upward Bound firsthand, Moi is excited to give back to the program that helped shape his own journey and support the next generation of students.

Gigi is joining us as she begins her first semester of graduate school this fall, where she will be pursuing a Master’s in Journalism. Originally from Seoul, South Korea, Gigi brings her love of writing, creativity, and storytelling to the Academic Success Center.

Throughout the year, Moi and Gigi will be working directly with our students through 1-on-1 literacy support, scholarship and academic workshops, College Prep Saturday Sessions, and so much more. They are both passionate about creating meaningful connections with students and helping them feel confident in their academic journeys.

Some fun facts: Moi loves opening blind boxes, with Hirono from Pop Mart being his favorite series. 🫰🏽 Gigi enjoys writing poetry and embroidering, and she has only ever had herbivores as pets! ✍🏽

We are so excited to have Moi and Gigi joining our team and cannot wait for our students to get to know them.

Welcome to the Upward Bound family!

Help us welcome the newest addition to our Upward Bound family, Mrs. Del Castillo - our new Washoe Grant Project Coordin...
08/11/2026

Help us welcome the newest addition to our Upward Bound family, Mrs. Del Castillo - our new Washoe Grant Project Coordinator!

With 13 years of experience at the University of Nevada, Reno and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with an emphasis in Marketing Management from Cal Poly Pomona, Mrs. Del Castillo also holds a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership with an emphasis in Higher Education Administration from Nevada.

As a first-generation college student herself, Mrs. Del Castillo knows firsthand how meaningful it can be to have someone in your corner while navigating higher education. She is passionate about giving back to her community, supporting students and their families, and helping young people recognize their potential and the opportunities available to them.

She is most excited to get to know our students, learn about their goals, celebrate their accomplishments, and build meaningful relationships along the way.

And now for the fun stuff: outside of work, Mrs. Del Castillo enjoys playing and coaching volleyball and considers herself very competitive! But perhaps the most important thing to know is that she once had a pet goat named Chiquita, who was spoiled with Galletas María, blankets, and bedtime reading. Yes, you read that right! 🐐💙

We are so excited to have Mrs. Del Castillo joining the Upward Bound/UBMS family and cannot wait to see the impact she will make with our students. Welcome to the team!

Did you know that Upward Bound hosts a six-week Internship Initiative every summer?Each year, our incoming college fresh...
08/02/2026

Did you know that Upward Bound hosts a six-week Internship Initiative every summer?

Each year, our incoming college freshmen step into professional work environments across the University of Nevada, Reno and our community, giving them the opportunity to gain real-world experience before they even begin their first semester of college.

This summer, our interns partnered with The First-Generation Student Center, The Latino Research Center & CBESS, The Innevation Center, The Museum of People, Places & Time, The Joe Crowley Student Union, The Northern Nevada International Center, The Office of Indigenous Relations, PBS Reno, The Anthropology Department, The Center for Student Engagement, and Deans Future Scholars.

Over the course of the six weeks, students didn’t just observe. They became part of their teams. They attended staff meetings, collaborated on projects, supported programs and events, communicated professionally with supervisors and colleagues, solved real workplace challenges, and developed the confidence to navigate a professional environment. They learned what it means to show up on time, ask thoughtful questions, take initiative, receive feedback, and contribute to a mission bigger than themselves.

In addition to their internship placement, interns participated in a weekly professional development seminar with Mr. Barbosa. Throughout the summer, students built resume and cover letters, strengthened their networking and communication skills, developed their personal brand, explored workplace etiquette and professionalism, practiced interviewing, learned how to manage workplace conflict, and gained the tools needed to successfully transition from high school to college and into their future careers.

The best part? Several of our interns were offered employment by their internship sites and will be heading into their first semester of college with meaningful work experience and a job already secured.

This initiative is about so much more than an internship. It’s about opening doors, building confidence, creating connections, and helping first-generation students see that they belong in professional spaces.

Congrats, class of 2026!

And that’s a wrap on our 2026 Summer Academy!What. A. Summer.For the past six weeks, 90+ Upward Bound students have been...
08/01/2026

And that’s a wrap on our 2026 Summer Academy!

What. A. Summer.

For the past six weeks, 90+ Upward Bound students have been learning, growing, exploring, and preparing for their futures. From discovering careers they’re passionate about to building confidence in and out of the classroom, this summer was filled with unforgettable experiences.

This year’s theme, “Degrees Today for the Careers of Tomorrow,” challenged students to explore careers that inspire them. Engineers, school counselors, social workers, doctors, educators, business leaders, and so much more. Last night, they proudly shared their research and presentations with more than 300 family members, friends, and community supporters at our Summer Showcase.

This summer also included:

📚 Grade-level academic instruction to prepare for the school year.
🎓 Hands-on career and major exploration with colleges and schools across the University of Nevada, Reno.
🎤 Our Career Summit, where first-generation professionals shared their stories and advice.
🤝 A Career Fair connecting students with local employers and opportunities.
🏔️ A week at the University of Nevada, Reno at Lake Tahoe, giving students a true college experience they’ll never forget.

A huge THANK YOU to our incredible Upward Bound staff, campus partners, mentors, families, and community members who make these opportunities possible year after year. Most importantly, thank you to our students for showing up every day ready to learn, grow, and dream bigger. We’re so proud of you.

We’ll see you all in September!

P.S. Make sure you swipe all the way to the last slide for a special live music performance. ;)

TRIO Works! 💙

Get ready for an evening of innovation, exploration, and inspiration!Join us on Friday, July 31, from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at ...
07/16/2026

Get ready for an evening of innovation, exploration, and inspiration!

Join us on Friday, July 31, from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at The Discovery Museum for the Upward Bound Career Pathways Showcase.

After six weeks of exploring college majors, career pathways, and their future goals, our incredible first-generation Upward Bound students are ready to showcase everything they’ve learned. Experience interactive exhibits, hands-on activities, and inspiring projects designed and presented by the students themselves as they share their passions, discoveries, and dreams for the future.

Your ticket also includes full access to The Discovery Museum. Plus, the first 300 guests will enjoy a free dinner from Mr. Yummy Yummy and specialty drinks from The Compound Coffee. Huge thank you to Mr. Yummy Yummy |Japanese BBQ Hibachi Food Truck| & Compound Coffee for your amazing food and drink donations! ☕️🍲

Admission is free, so invite your family and friends and come celebrate the hard work, creativity, and accomplishments of these amazing students. We can’t wait to welcome you!

“In one generation, everything can change.” Powerful words shared by our Director, Mrs. Sims, that continue to sit with ...
06/16/2026

“In one generation, everything can change.” Powerful words shared by our Director, Mrs. Sims, that continue to sit with us as we reflect on this year.

This past month, we gathered for our End of Year May Banquet to celebrate and recognize the hard work of our 246 students. Throughout the evening, we highlighted student awards, scholarship recipients, and the many accomplishments that have taken place across the year. We also took time to honor our Upward Bound champions and allies who consistently show up, support, and pour into our students and programs.

This event is always one of our most meaningful moments of the year. It is a chance to step back and truly see the impact of the work being done every day by both students and staff. The growth, resilience, and achievement represented in that room is something we do not take for granted.

We are incredibly grateful for our staff, students, partners, and everyone who continues to believe in this work. This year was full of purpose and progress, and we are proud of all that was accomplished together.

Here’s to another amazing year!

Class of 2026,What a year.This past week, 57 Upward Bound seniors crossed the graduation stage at high schools across Wa...
06/15/2026

Class of 2026,

What a year.

This past week, 57 Upward Bound seniors crossed the graduation stage at high schools across Washoe and Lyon Counties. From Top 20 placements and full-ride scholarships to out-of-state college acceptances, summer bridge programs, and competitive internships, this class has continuously shown what is possible when determination, resilience, and opportunity come together.

Their accomplishments speak for themselves: 100% of our seniors graduated high school, earned more than 550 college credits through dual enrollment opportunities, achieved 50 Advanced/Honors Diplomas and/or Associate’s Degrees, and secured over $496,000 in scholarships and financial aid.

But beyond the numbers, this class leaves behind a legacy of perseverance, growth, leadership, and heart. As first-generation students, many of them are preparing to do something truly transformative, not only for themselves, but for their families and future generations to come.

Class of 2026, thank you for allowing us to be part of your journey. We are incredibly proud of all that you have accomplished and cannot wait to watch you continue changing the world around you.

You are living proof that TRIO Works.

Onward & Upward,
Your UB/UBMS Family

Changing lives one student at a time. 💙Join the TRIO Upward Bound team at the University of Nevada, Reno as we support f...
05/28/2026

Changing lives one student at a time. 💙

Join the TRIO Upward Bound team at the University of Nevada, Reno as we support first-generation students on their path to college and beyond.

We’re hiring Project Coordinators and Graduate Assistants who believe in access, opportunity, and student success.

Apply at: www.unr.edu/jobs

We are proud to celebrate UB/UBMS alum Anayeli Mendoza, a first-generation student turning opportunity into impact.Throu...
05/05/2026

We are proud to celebrate UB/UBMS alum Anayeli Mendoza, a first-generation student turning opportunity into impact.

Through her time in Upward Bound -- and an internship with our UB/UBMS Internship Initiative -- Anayeli discovered her passion at the , where she continues to grow as a business student at the University of Nevada, Reno. Now, she’s preparing for the next step: law school, with a vision to open doors for others navigating similar paths.

Anayeli’s journey is a powerful reminder of what happens when access meets opportunity. She is not only building her future; she’s shaping what’s possible for those who follow.

📖 Read her full story in Nevada Today: https://www.unr.edu/nevada-today/news/2026/fotp-anayeli-mendoza

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1664 N Virginia Street
Reno, NV
89557

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

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