How to Apply

Eligibility Requirements

Students accepted into the TRIO Upward Bound Columbia Basin (hereinafter TRIO U.B.) program must meet the following requirements:

• Desire to attend college after high school graduation and has academic need
• Be in 9th-12th grade attending either Moses Lake High School, Vanguard Academy, or Warden High School
• Be a United States Citizen or Permanent Resident (documentation must be verified by TRIO U.B. staff)
• Be a first-generation student, meaning parents have not completed a four-year college degree
• Family is income-eligible based on the following incoming levels below:

  Federal TRIO Programs Current-Year Low-Income Levels based on Taxable Income (not Adjusted Gross Income). (Effective January 11, 2024 until further notice)

  Size of Family Unit	Income for the 48 Contiguous States, D.C., and Outlying Jurisdictions	Income for Alaska	Income for Hawaii
  1	$22,590	$28,215	$25,965
  2	$30,660	$38,310	$35,250
  3	$38,730	$48,405	$44,535
  4	$46,800	$58,500	$53,820
  5	$54,870	$68,595	$63,105
  6	$62,940	$78,690	$72,390
  7	$71,010	$88,785	$81,675
  8	$79,080	$98,880	$90,960

  The U.S. Department of Education requires Upward Bound to verify that our participants meet federal criteria based on educational background, household income level and need for academic support to determine student eligibility. All information provided to UB will remain CONFIDENTIAL. In order to protect your privacy, UB abides by the Federal Privacy Act and FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act).

Required Documents When Applying

Below are the documents that you will need to complete your application as well as what is required for each document and how to get them. Please gather these documents before you start the application as they will need to be uploaded to the online application. If you choose, you may come to the TRIO U.B. office location and receive a paper application to fill out and return.

Current Grades & State Test Scores

• Most recent transcript OR grade report with cumulative GPA signed and dated by school counselor
  • Moses Lake High School and Vanguard Academy students can download their transcript via SchoolLinks
• Most recent English, Math, and Science state test scores

Writing Sample

The required writing sample is about you and explaining who you are. This is to help us get to know you prior to your potential interview to join our program. Your header should look as follows:

WSU-TC TRIO Upward Bound Application

Writing Sample

Your Name, School, Grade Level

Your writing sample can include the following topics:

• Your talents, abilities, hobbies, and interests (what you enjoy and topics you are passionate about)
• Your family
• Your involvement in school, community, home life
• Explanations if you have low grades, discipline records, or attendance issues
• How TRIO U.B. can impact your life and future if you are accepted into the program

Recommendations

We will need 2 recommendations for you with the following criteria:

• One recommendation must from a teacher who knows you well, had/has you in class, and can vouch for your grades, skills, talents, and work ethic
• One recommendation from another teacher or counselor, coach, youth worker, church official, or any person that can speak on behalf of your talents, work ethic, dedication, commitment, and potential

You can download the Recommendation Form here and either email the form to your chosen recommenders or print out 2 copies and hand it to them. This is the only document that you do not need to upload to the online application. The recommenders will have to return them to the TRIO U.B. office via U.S. mail, Moses Lake School District inter-department mail, or hand it to a TRIO U.B. staff member directly.

Application

All documents listed above are required in order to be considered for an interview to join our program. However, you can complete the application first and then email your grades, state test scores, and writing sample to the TRIO U.B. email once you have them instead of uploading them to this application. Any incomplete applications will indicate to a staff member to reach out via email the missing required documents. If you are ready to apply now, click the link below to start the online application.