Barton County Upward Bound recently asked area business leaders to speak to high school students. Lisa Werth with Guardian Mortgage and Megan Martinez with Sunflower Bank taught financial education to high school students from various targeted Barton County schools on June 8. They focused on the topics of credit scores, consumer loans and mortgage loans.

Upward Bound serves low-income students and those who represent the first generation in their families to attend college.

The Barton program hosts a week of service activities and then a four-week summer instructional program for its students. According to Barton County Upward Bound Academic Coordinator Rebecca Kratzer, the summer program is designed to keep students engaged throughout the summer and help simulate what their college experiences will be like in the coming years.

The program started June 5 and runs through June 29.