Lyndonville – On Monday, November 19th, five students from the Vermont State University Lyndon Upward Bound program toured the University of Maine at Machias. The students started the day off at Jasper Beach, a beach where the Machias students often go to collect specimens and creatures to bring back to campus and study. The Upward Bound students spent time exploring and finding shells and rocks of their own.

Once on campus the students were greeted warmly by admissions staff who gave an abbreviated admissions presentation and then had a walking tour of campus to show off the college’s classrooms, residence halls, and facilities. The tour was eye opening for the students and truly highlighted the hands-on opportunities that college students receive: from going to the beach to bring back animals, to artistically recreating the skeletons of these animals. The tour even included a marine biology lab that was filled with local fish that the college students take care of. Additionally, the tour guide shared her experience as a student studying Marine Biology and even gave our group an inside look at the room where they keep and study live fish!

Maine Machias is Maine’s public coastal university, where the land, sea and natural ecosystems provide the context for a unique learning and living experience. The college has a distinctive, high-quality education that centers on engaging students in the scientific, cultural, economic and social inquiry.

Upward Bound at Vermont State University - Lyndon is a college preparatory program funded through the United States Department of Education. The program is committed to providing modest income, first-in-family college-bound students with the academic background, college preparatory experiences, and support to succeed in college immediately after high school. The Upward Bound program works with 75 students in 10 area high schools who are dedicated to achieving their post-secondary dreams.