BY WENDY HARRISON/CONTRIBUTING WRITER
WHarrison@pdc.edu

FRANKLIN—The Rev. Kenneth Zollicoffer from AME Zion Church and an English teacher at Southampton Middle School spoke about success during the closing ceremony for Paul D. Camp Community College’s 2011 Upward Bound program.

“The enemy of success is not failure. It is simply not trying,” Zollicoffer told about 250 students, staff and guests attending the event at the Regional Workforce Development Center for the five-week program.

“The summer program was very successful,” said Director Travis Parker. “We averaged 45 students a day.”

Participants attended classes in math, science, literature, English, finance or careers. Seniors took SAT preparatory classes for math, and freshmen participated in the Western Tidewater Tech Prep/Career Pathways Consortium Summer Technology Camp.

Other highlights included a win for PDCCC at a debate against Saint Paul’s College held at Virginia State University during Upward Bound Day; a tour of the Blackwater River through the Blackwater Nottoway Riverkeeper Program’s Eco-Cruise offering; a tour of the Art Institute of Virginia Beach; and the CPR/first-aid certification of 15 students.

Students put together a presentation at the end of the summer relating to what they have learned during the program.

“They did a wonderful job,” said Parker.

The Upward Bound alumni address was delivered by Shaleetta Hicks, a graduate of Franklin High School and a 2010 recipient of the Gates Millennium Scholarship. Hicks attends University of Richmond.

Presentations included a finance skit, students reading literary pieces, a fashion show and a musical.

For more information about the Upward Bound Program at PDCCC, log onto www.pdc.edu/upward-bound/