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Upward Bound director honored for decades of service

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By Andrew McGinn, Staff Writer 9:50 PM Friday, July 24, 2009

SPRINGFIELD — James Moore admits that honoring someone for 33 years of service isn’t in keeping with the tradition of marking milestones in five-year increments.

“Thirty-three years is kind of an odd year,” he said, “but tomorrow isn’t promised to us.”

Maybe so, but in Eddie L. Chambers’ 33rd year of running the Upward Bound program at Wittenberg University, 95 more students were at least given a shot at tomorrow.

And in Moore’s book, that’s worth honoring in any year.

Chambers was honored by surprise Friday night, July 24, at the banquet to mark the end of this year’s Upward Bound summer program.

“I’m used to giving awards, not receiving awards,” he said, “so I’m shocked.”

Upward Bound is a six-week program that prepares first-generation college students and low-income high school students for higher education. It continues throughout the school year with tutoring.

“A lot of times,” Moore said, “that type of service goes unnoticed. Here’s a man who’s given 33 years of his life to serving kids in this community.”

By Chambers’ count, that adds up to more than 3,000 local students — 90 percent of whom have gone on to college.

“I’m always encouraged by what I see, what I hear,” he said.

Moore has been president of the program’s parent club for two years, but for him, honoring Chambers was also personal.

Moore’s 16-year-old son, James Moore II, is enrolled in the program, the first of his four children to do so.

“The better education you have, the better opportunities you have to get a good job,” the elder Moore said. “James seemed to be the one who needed that little extra shove.”

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