DSCC Upward Bound teams score wins in division

Members of Dyersburg State Community College's Advanced Upward Bound team are shown with the second-place trophy they recently earned at the annual Tennessee Association of Special Programs Scholar's Bowl at Austin Peay University in Clarksville. From left, Hakeem Eskew and team captain Jeremy Bratcher, both of Peabody High School; Tommy Isaak of Halls High School; Brian Brown of Peabody High School; Jerry Patrick of Halls High School; DSCC Upward Bound Counselor and coach Marilyn Armstrong; Wyatt Turner of Peabody High School; and Assistant Director ETSU Upward Bound and TASP President Stephen Hendrix.

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Dyersburg State's Exhibition team easily won all of its academic matches, with the Advanced DSCC team placing second in the state. The advanced team won all of its matches only to lose in the final round. The team finished second of 10 teams to a very strong and talented APSU team.

Questions featured included the subjects of computer science, literature, history, mathematics, sports, geography, biology, chemistry and medicine.

This competition marks the 14th year DSCC teams have entered, with teams placing eight times in the top three positions.

Upward Bound teams from DSCC won the state-level competition twice - in 2003 and 2008 - and won the regional and final level in Atlanta in 2003. The DSCC 2008 Upward Bound team came in second in regional play in Atlanta, Ga., only losing in the last round of questions to a hand-selected all-star team from Kentucky.

Advanced team members this year included captain Jeremy Bratcher, Hakeem Eskew, Brian Brown and Wyatt Turner of Trenton Peabody High School, and Jerry Patrick and Tommy Isaak of Halls High School.

Members of the exhibition team included captain Zack McCoy of Trenton Peabody High School, Hannah Evans of Dyer County High School and Clarissa Stark, Bradley Belton and Andy Gaines of Halls High School. Upward Bound Counselor Marilyn Armstrong has coached all teams since 1996.

Upward Bound provides opportunities for participants to succeed in their pre-college performance and, ultimately, in their higher education pursuits. The program serves high school students from low-income families, high school students from families in which neither parent holds a bachelor's degree, and those with low income who are preparing to enter postsecondary education. 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.

The program provides academic instruction in mathematics, laboratory sciences, composition, literature, and foreign languages. Tutoring, counseling, mentoring, cultural enrichment, and work-study programs also are supported.

For more information, contact Upward Bound Director Bob Jones at 288-7811 or visit the DSCC Web site at www.dscc.edu.