Upward bound claims “To provide fundamental support to participants in their preparation for college entrance. The program provides opportunities for participants to succeed in their precollege performance and ultimately in their higher education pursuits. Upward Bound serves: high school students from low-income families; and high school students from families in which neither parent holds a bachelor's degree. The goal of Upward Bound is to increase the rate at which participants complete secondary education and enroll in and graduate from institutions of postsecondary education. " Recently I was informed that a student, a loved and active member, who has participated in Upward Bound for over two years will not be attending his third consecutive summer due to attending National Academy of Future Scientists and Technologists (NAFST); a very prestigious and selective program. Zack Caraballo was selected for this program from College Board Student Search and received at letter from Buzz Aldrin, an American engineer and former astronaut, and the second person to walk on the Moon, asking him to apply. The NA FST has promised to bring their young Delegates face-to-face with:

· Winners of the Nobel Prize, the most prestigious award in the world;

· Award winning young inventors and scientists;

· Deans of the world’s 10 top universities;

· Ivy League academic leaders;

· Leaders of science and tech;

· And scientific futurists

Mr. Caraballo has wanted to pursue a career in a STEM field ever since he was in middle school. To ensure his success for his feature he participates in multiple programs in addition to Upward Bound. Last year his schedule was so jammed packed that he only had two days to spare in between U.S. Naval Academy, another STEM focused program, and Upward Bound. This year Mr. Caraballo doesn’t have the luxury of two days, actually he has the exact opposite situation. NAFST conflicts with Upward Bound's schedule by two days, June 28-June 30. As a result of this confliction the director of Castleton Upward Bound has dismissed Mr. Caraballo from session 2 of Upward Bound for the summer.

During Mr. Caraballo’s first summer at Upward bound he remembers that a group of students missed multiple days in order to attend a school field trip and were allowed to come back to participate in the rest of the summer program. As President of Castleton Upward Bound Student Advisory Board I, Thomas Bacher, declare that this is not what Upward Bound is about, that Mr. Caraballo’s dismissal does not demonstrates the actions of providing fundamental support for college entrance nor provide opportunities to succeed in precollege performance, that Mr. Caraballo dismissal reflects the action of jealous emotions towards his acceptance to such a prestigious program. I encourage everyone to sign below to show their support that they feel that Mr. Caraballo should be allowed to attend session 2 of Upward Bound despite his absence on two days due to him attending such a prestigious program as NAFST!