a group of students pose for a photo in front of a museum

TRIO Upward Bound

Our Mission

TRIO Upward Bound is funded by the U.S. Department of Education to empower first-generation and low-income students in the Blackfeet Nation and Missoula to succeed in high school and plan for college (e.g., a trade school, two-year community college, or four-year university).

Throughout the school year, Upward Bound offers after-school tutoring in each of our target high schools, volunteer opportunities, monthly workshops on topics related to high school success and postsecondary enrollment, and tours of area colleges when possible. During our six-week Summer Academy, students live on campus, take courses to prepare for the upcoming school year, and participate in an engaging variety of experiential learning activities.

All Upward Bound programming is completely free for all participating students.

Picture of the 1966 Summer Academy participants.

‎1966: Inaugural Summer Academy

‎

UB's 2025 Summer Academy group picture at the stairs in Norm Hall at MSU

2025: 59th Annual Summer Academy

‎

Jaiden's Testimonial

Jaiden Crawford has participated in 4 Summer Academies: 2 as a high school student and 2 as a Residential Advisor! Her commitment to UM TRIO Upward Bound shines through her active involvement in tutoring, monthly workshops, and community service as a high school student. Even after graduating, she returned as an RA for two Summer Academies and continues to support the program occasionally as a work-study while pursuing her college career at UM.

After-School Schedule

Afterschool Schedule 2025-2026

Organizational Affiliations

COE, Council for Opportunity in Education

COE

The Council for Opportunity in Education (COE) champions equal access to higher education, offering resources, advocacy, and opportunities that empower first-generation and low-income students to succeed.

TRIO ASPIRE. Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming

ASPIRE

ASPIRE strengthens TRIO programs across the Western U.S., providing training, support, and advocacy to ensure every student has the opportunity to achieve their educational goals.

Unite Logo

Unite

Unite, a pathway of the Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP), is a nationwide summer experience that introduces high school students to STEM through hands-on learning and mentorship, helping them build skills and explore future career opportunities.

We are grateful to receive support from the USDA Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) in partnership with the Office of Public Instruction School Nutrition Programs. In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

77

We are funded to serve 77 high school students annually at five schools.

$417,828

We receive $417,828 in federal funds annually from the US Department of Education.

73%

73% of 2024 high school graduates in our program immediately enrolled in college in the fall or spring after graduating.

Additional Resources