Dalton Bentley, a senior in the small town of Prestonsburg located in Eastern Kentucky needs our help. For almost two years, he has been part of a great program called Upward Bound that helps students prepare for college and much more. One thing the program offers is the summer program, and that is where our issue lies. Dalton attended the summer program in 2019 for two weeks before having to leave all of his belongings there and go to the emergency room. There he was informed he must have surgery and would not be able to return to complete his summer with Upward Bound. He as well as staff and his friends were deeply saddened by this. Some even offered to come visit him in the hospital. Fast forward to senior year and the summer program fast approaches. Dalton is informed that he can not attend the summer program because of a “policy” put in place to prevent people from abusing classes offered by Upward Bound senior year. He had to “complete a full summer prior” to his bridge year. Dalton had every intention to complete his summer needed, but due to an unforeseen medical emergency, he was unable to. Under there current policy’s, this is not excused.

Join me in supporting the petition to allow Dalton Bentley to attend his bridge year and change the UPIKE Upward Bounds policy to allow illness and medical emergency’s to be excused for the summer program!