BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Joy Murungi is the new pre-college academic specialist for the Santa Fe College Upward Bound program in Starke, but she’s anything but a new face in Upward Bound. You could say the program has been a part of her entire journey upward from Bradford High School student to Santa Fe student.
“I got to see it from a student perspective,” Murungi said. “Now, I’m within the internal part of the program, so I get to see how everything works so that the staff can give back to the students.”
Murungi, who in the Santa Fe College Organizational Management bachelor’s program (with a specialization in Human Resource Management), graduated from BHS in 2021. She was a part of the Upward Bound program for all four years at BHS.
Upward Bound, which is offered free to BHS students, is a part of the U.S. Department of Education’s TRIO program. TRIO is designed to provide assistance to students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Upward Bound accepts students that are potentially first-generation college students and whose families meet income requirements set by the U.S. Department of Education.
“TRIO paved the pathway for me to receive a two-year scholarship through CAP (College Achievement Program) at Santa Fe College,” Murungi said.
Murungi, who’s already earned an AA degree at Santa Fe in Business Administration, has worked in Upward Bound since graduating from BHS. She first worked as an educational aide and was then a program support specialist prior to her current role.
As a pre-college academic specialist, Murungi helps BHS seniors prepare for success after high school. She assists them with such things as college applications and makes them aware of what scholarships and financial assistance is available to them. As Murungi described it, she’s “helping them along every aspect of the journey of going to college and making sure they’re equipped with what they need to get to where they want to go.”
Murungi said it’s a full-circle moment for her.
As a BHS student, Murungi had no doubt college was a part of her future. That was due to the support she received from her mother, who “raised me to go out and do what you want to do and be very assertive about it, but also very respectful, of course.”
Upward Bound, though, provided a little extra support. Murungi said she wouldn’t have known about Santa Fe College CAP if not for Upward Bound.
Murungi is one for taking advantage of opportunities. She was among the first group of students in the VyStar High School Branch Program at BHS. She credited the experience for inspiring her to think of a career in human resources.
During the 2023-24 year at Santa Fe College, Murungi was part of the Student Ambassador Program, which provides a scholarship and offers leadership opportunities that help develop professional skills.
“You are the face of the college,” Murungi said of being an ambassador.
Murungi hopes that her own experiences can inspire current and future BHS seniors. She said it’s all about thinking you can do whatever you want to do and then taking the steps to make it happen.
“You’re very capable of doing what you want to do, but it all starts with the mindset of the student,” Murungi said.
She may be the Upward Bound pre-college academic specialist, but Murungi said she welcomes opportunities to assist BHS seniors who don’t plan to go to college. Do they want to go straight into a career? Do they want to go into the military?
It’s all about figuring out what that student’s passion is and how to fulfill it.
“If they don’t know yet, that is OK,” Murungi said. “We’re going to find it out.”
Murungi is just one part of an Upward Bound team that also includes Director Yolanda Thomas, Academic Coach D’on Jeffers and Administrative Assistant Melisa Clark. Mrgungi said they share the same passion: student success. If that wasn’t a shared passion, Upward Bound wouldn’t work.
“Once you have a team that is of one accord, you’re going to be successful,” Murungi said. “If you don’t have it, the students are going to see that.”
Murungi is continuing her education while she works with Upward Bound. She plans to graduate with her bachelor’s degree next year and then begin working toward a master’s degree in Public Administration.
Upward Bound was a help in her making this collegiate journey. Now, it’s also allowing her to help others make that journey.
“I love the students. I love the program,” Murungi said. “It’s a great program for anyone wanting to go to college.
“Even if they’re not in the Upward Bound program, I still want to help students go to college by any means necessary.”
