Secondary Programs

The Lapwai and Orofino Upward Bound project first started at the University of Idaho in 1968. It was the first such project at UI and remains one of the longest running in the country. Indeed, very few of the more than 800 Upward Bound projects across the nation can trace their origins to the beginnings of what President Lyndon Johnson assured us would not be a short or easy struggle. We were born of the same legislation that created Work-Study, Head-Start, and low-interest student loans and we’ve been at the forefront of the effort to provide opportunity, enable access, and support the achievement of low-income and first-generation students. And we’re not done.




In 2012, Lapwai and Orofino Upward Bound was refunded by the US Department of Education—extending the University’s project until at least 2017. In the years ahead, we’ll continue the struggle and help lead the dialogue, strategy and actions that will enable our students to be successful.







Lapwai and Orofino Upward Bound consists of two major components: the Academic Year Program and the Summer Program.

During the academic year, Bridge Idaho dedicates full-time professional staff to both Lapwai High School and Orofino High School, providing tutoring, instruction, advising, guidance, mentoring, financial aid assistance, college admissions support and more. Activities out of school include college visits, cultural travel, as well as parent and community-based events.

The Summer Program provides the opportunity for participants to spend 6 weeks at the University of Idaho and on campuses across the country. Students travel, experience new culture, engage in workshops and internships, and take college classes that enable a jump-start on college—its not uncommon for our UB students to graduate high school with a semester or more of college and many core classes already complete. Departments and programs across the University of Idaho provide incredible support to ensure a student’s time in the summer is challenging, meaningful and rewarding—facilitating a familiarity with the academic rigor of higher education as well as the life and responsibilities of a college student. For more information on the Summer Program, click here (link to summer program fact sheet).

The University of Idaho partners with Lapwai and Orofino high schools to implement this Upward Bound project, serving at least 99 participants each year and striving to achieve the following objectives:

At least 75% of participants will achieve at least a 2.5 GPA
At least 75% of participants will achieve proficient on state assessments
At least 95% of participants will graduate high school
At least 70% of participants will complete a rigorous course of study in high school
At least 70% of participants will enroll in college immediately following high school completion
At least 60% of participants will complete college within 6 years of enrolling

Bridge Idaho has every intention of achieving beyond these ambitious objectives. In the past 5 years, 94% of our participants have achieved proficient on state assessments, 99% graduated high school, 75% enrolled in college immediately after high school, and 77% persisted in college.

Lapwai and Orofino Upward Bound is 100% federally funded by the US Department of Education at $411,899 annually.

In 2012, Bridge Idaho expanded services to the Nez Perce Reservation through a second Upward Bound grant funded to the University of Idaho. While we have long served Kamiah and Clearwater Valley high schools, we now have funding and personnel dedicated specifically to these two communities.

Kamiah and Clearwater Valley Upward Bound consists of two major components: the Academic Year Program and the Summer Program.

During the academic year, Bridge Idaho dedicates professional staff to provide tutoring, instruction, advising, guidance, mentoring, financial aid assistance, college admissions support and more. Activities out of school include college visits, cultural travel, as well as parent and community-based events.

The Summer Program provides the opportunity for participants to spend 6 weeks at the University of Idaho and on campuses across the country. Students travel, experience new culture, engage in workshops and internships, and take college classes that enable a jump-start on college—its not uncommon for our UB students to graduate high school with a semester or more of college and many core classes already complete. Departments and programs across the University of Idaho provide incredible support to ensure a student’s time in the summer is challenging, meaningful and rewarding—facilitating a familiarity with the academic rigor of higher education as well as the life and responsibilities of a college student. For more information on the Summer Program, click here (link to summer program fact sheet).

The University of Idaho partners with Kamiah and Clearwater Valley high schools to implement this Upward Bound project, serving at least 60 participants each year and striving to achieve the following objectives:

• At least 75% of participants will achieve at least a 2.5 GPA

• At least 75% of participants will achieve proficient on state assessments

• At least 95% of participants will graduate high school

• At least 70% of participants will complete a rigorous course of study in high school

• At least 70% of participants will enroll in college immediately following high school completion

• At least 60% of participants will complete college within 6 years of enrolling

Bridge Idaho has every intention of achieving beyond these ambitious objectives. In the past 5 years, 94% of our participants have achieved proficient on state assessments, 99% graduated high school, 75% enrolled in college immediately after high school, and 77% persisted in college.

Kamiah and Clearwater Valley Upward Bound is 100% federally funded by the US Department of Education at $250,000 annually.

Since 2010, Bridge Idaho has been the recipient of funding from the Nez Perce Tribe Executive Committee (NPTEC) in a joint effort to provide access to and success in higher education for low-income and first-generation students. The Nez Perce Local Education Fund has supported high school student enrollment in college courses (dual enrollment courses) and the development of a Higher Education Center in Kamiah High School .

Thanks to NPTEC support for Bridge Idaho’s mission, students at Lapwai, Orofino, Kamiah and Clearwater Valley high schools have enrolled in approximately 75 college courses since 2010 through University of Idaho Dual Credit and Independent Study in Idaho. Courses have ranged from Business and Psychology to English and Math and students have earned a median GPA of 3.0. By working with Bridge Idaho personnel on campus and in their respective high schools, students have:

• Become familiar with college rigor, expectations and learning systems;

• Created early investment in their post-secondary education, increasing the likelihood of college enrollment and persistence;

• Decreased the need for remedial coursework in college;

• Progressed towards completing a rigorous high school education, and;

• Become more competitive for college admissions and financial support.

Bridge Idaho is proud of its partnership with the Nez Perce Tribe. The University of Idaho sits on the ancestral lands of the Nez Perce and, as such, has an obligation to ensure access to and support for higher education for Tribal Members and those who live on the Nez Perce Reservation.

NPTEC Fact Sheet

Since 2010, Bridge Idaho has partnered with the State of Idaho College Access Challenge Grant in order to provide participants with greater access to college visits, including overnight and extended stays, as they consider their college options. This partnership has not only enabled Bridge Idaho participants to visit colleges both regionally and nationally, but it has provided for an experiential learning opportunity outside Bridge Idaho’s College 101 classroom in which students are able to consider and apply the various aspects of the college decision-making process. Through these tours, students gain essential knowledge concerning the different types of post-secondary institutions and are able to consider their options in determining their “best fit” for college.

Over the past two years, Bridge Idaho participants have had the opportunity to visit institutions such as Gonzaga University, North Idaho College, the University of Maryland, Georgetown, and the University of Virginia and had extended stays at the University of Idaho, George Washington University, and New York University.

Contributions from the State of Idaho and the College Access Challenge Grant have enabled the success of Idaho’s students and supported Bridge Idaho’s mission.

The State of Idaho’s College Access Challenge Grant is administered by the State Board of Education. More information about programming administered by the State Board of Education.

Each summer Bridge Idaho’s Upward Bound programs team up with the USDA’s Summer Food Service Program in order to provide nutritious meal options for our program participants. While this, of course, fulfills a logistical need of the program, it is important to recognize that this partnership addresses the greater need of food scarcity among low-income students.

Bridge Idaho’s mission of providing greater access and attainment for the low-income, first-generation students of Idaho requires a focus on the needs of those who have traditionally been unable to access higher education, including basic needs such as nutrition. By providing for one of these unmet needs, the Summer Food Service Program makes college more accessible and provides a resource within the university system, supporting greater inclusion.

Through this program partnership, meals are provided to all eligible children participating in Upward Bound free of charge. Acceptance and participation requirements for the program and all activities are the same for all regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability, and there is no discrimination during the course of the meal service. Furthermore, meals are provided at all Upward Bound program sites.

More information on the USDA’s Summer Food Service Program