Simpson University awarded $4.8 million to boost higher-ed success rates

Simpson University was awarded $4.8 million in federal grants to help boost higher education success among North State students, its second multi-million-dollar grant this year.

The university program, GEAR UP, which stands for Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs, is in partnership with College OPTIONS Inc. and helps middle-school students get interested in college early on.

The seven-year grant will serve more than 800 students in 10 middle schools and nine high schools in Shasta, Siskiyou, Tehama, Trinity and Modoc counties.