Fifty-two male students from Detroit Public Schools came to live and study at Cranbrook in the summer of 1965. Known in its first year as Horizons, the experimental enrichment program was conceived by three Cranbrook Schools faculty—Ben M. Snyder, Robert M. Sandoe, and Robert W. Usellis. Snyder would serve as HUB’s director for 25 years. 

Initially made possible through a Ford Foundation grant, Horizons became part of the U.S. Department of Education’s Upward Bound program in 1966. Both programs were designed to assist potential first-generation high school students from low-income families to give them an opportunity to excel in college. With this federal funding, the program changed its name to Horizons-Upward Bound. 

HUB experienced a lot of changes and challenges in its first five years, as did the country. The national civil rights movement was in full swing, there was major civil unrest in Detroit and Pontiac, and Bloomfield Hills, like other Detroit suburbs, was rapidly growing.  

By 1969 the HUB student body had doubled and included public school students from Detroit, Pontiac, and Oakland County suburbs. The faculty pool transformed from nearly all Cranbrook School faculty to fifty percent Detroit Public Schools faculty, plus interns from Wayne State University. Curriculum and activities expanded, and a winter phase was instituted for tutorial assistance throughout the school year. A scholarship pipeline to Cranbrook School was established, and several special projects were introduced.  

Individuals are identified in each image below, if known. Please contact archives@cranbrook.edu with any additional information.

Grayling Powell in class, Summer 1969.

HUB students, Chris Palmer (HUB ‘71) center, working with library staff, Summer 1967.

HUB student with woodshop teacher, John F. Warren, Summer 1968.

Mike Johnson, August 29, 1968. Barb Peters, photographer, for The Eccentric.

Kitty Weir hosts students in the first year of Operation Homestead, Summer 1969.

HUB students, Enrique Bustillos (HUB ‘71) on right, Summer 1968.

HUB student at Theme Day luncheon, Summer 1969. 

• 1970s >>