Date of Award

2024

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Education (Ed.D.)

Department

Administrative and Instructional Leadership

First Advisor

Barbara Cozza

Second Advisor

Richard Bernato

Third Advisor

James Coviello

Abstract

This phenomenological qualitative study examined the intersection between TRIO Upward Bound participation and resilience theory to determine how participation in TRIO Upward Bound impacted the resiliency of its at-risk youth participants. Accordingly, the participants of this study are alumni of the federally funded TRIO Upward Bound program, a pre-collegiate initiative designed to increase the enrollment and persistence rates of at-risk youths by helping to prepare them for success at postsecondary institutions. The researcher examined the construct of resilience to provide an alternate measure of the efficacy of these programs. The researcher used artifacts, photo-elicitation, and interviews to gather data. Thematic analysis was employed to generate themes and subthemes that captured the essence of the participants’ experiences. The findings of this study conclude that TRIO Upward Bound provides participants with significant academic, environmental, and social-emotional support that enhances their resiliency levels and promotes their overall development as young adults. This research adds to the literature on pre-collegiate programs and resiliency theory. The results of this study aid in our knowledge of effective strategies for the development and implementation of pre-collegiate and out-of-school programs.

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