On June 27, 2022, Chief Judge Eric Melgren welcomed participants attending the Wichita State University Upward Bound Program to the Wichita Federal Courthouse. TRIO/Upward Bound is an intensive eight-week federally funded Collegiate Transition Program available to local high school students in grades 9-12.   

The program is designed to generate skills and interest in education beyond high school among low-income and potential first-generation college students, and to help increase motivation to pursue post-secondary educational programs. The day-long visit to the courthouse was an opportunity to expose the TRIO/Upward Bound participants to various professions within the federal court system.  

Students heard from a former Upward Bound participant and current federal public defender, summer intern law students, an attorney, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Federal Public Defenders Office, federal court chambers staff, former federal law clerks, and members of the U.S. Probation Office. Members of several law enforcement agencies, including U.S. Marshals Service, FBI, DEA, and Department of Homeland Security also made presentations about their profession, their backgrounds, and how they became interested in law enforcement work.