TRIO Upward Bound Staff Recognized as "Hometown Heroes"

Posted on: Oct, 9, 2023

TRIO Upward Bound Staff Recognized as "Hometown Heroes"
Molly Zinkle (left) and Sarina Tung (right) were named 'Hometown Heroes' for their accomplishments with GHC’s TRIO Upward Bound program at Hoquiam High School.
Molly Zinkle (left) and Sarina Tung (right) were named 'Hometown Heroes' for their accomplishments with GHC’s TRIO Upward Bound program at Hoquiam High School.

Sarina Tung, Director of GHC’s TRIO Upward Bound Program, and Molly Zinkle, Educational & Student Support Specialist with Upward Bound, were recently named ‘Hometown Heroes’ by the MyTown Coalition.

The MyTown Coalition is a program that runs in collaboration with the Grays Harbor Health Department and professionals in various fields like education, drug prevention, mental health, faith-based organizations, and community members looking to improve Hoquiam.

The Upward Bound program started serving students at Hoquiam High School in January, 2023, after GHC received $2.87M in federal funding to establish Upward Bound programs at Hoquiam, Raymond, and Ocosta High Schools. Upward Bound offers career and education guidance, particularly for low-income, minority, and first-generation students, with the aim of promoting high school graduation and supporting post-secondary education enrollment and completion.

“There has never been so much excitement and positivity with so many students about college and career readiness, and it's the result of the amazing efforts and attitudes that Molly and Sarina have added to our high school,” said Tamara Helland, Counselor at Hoquiam High School. “Molly and Sarina have been at HHS since January 2023 and have made a big impact. Both of them have built incredibly strong, positive relationships with our high schoolers within a very short amount of time. They are helping students go to college who never thought they would have that possibility.”

In their time at Hoquiam High School so far, Sarina and Molly have taken Upward Bound students on field trips to tour more than 10 colleges and universities throughout the Pacific Northwest, including overnight trips to the University of Washington, Central Washington University, Bellevue College, Saint Martin’s University, Western Washington University, Lewis & Clark College, and others.