Arizona GEAR UP amplifies reach to high school seniors amid COVID-19

Arizona GEAR UP was recently featured for their innovation in the face of COVID-19. When school closures upended their outreach plans, Arizona GEAR UP took action and began mailing out resources to support their students. “It is crucial for Arizona’s graduating high school seniors to have every possible resource at their disposal at the moment,” said NAU President Rita Hartung Cheng. “...it is important for students to be…

How GEAR UP Schools Are Virtually Supporting Students and Families

Oregon GEAR UP recently published an article highlighting the various initiatives they are implementing to provide GEAR UP services virtually. Corinne Flake, GEAR UP Coordinator, had this to say about the impact Oregon GEAR UP has had virtual learning, “Our school has been incredibly proactive with making sure students are fed, classes are ongoing, virtual check ins throughout. It has been amazing!! Everyone is so incredibly…

University of Montevallo helping high schools stay connected

GEAR UP programs across the U.S. have shifted how they are supporting educators, students, and families during COVID-19. GEAR UP Jefferson County was recently featured for their successful services during and before the pandemic. “We are trying to do everything we possibly can to support the schools and the teachers,” said GEAR UP Jefferson County director Jenny Ceesay. Due to early planning and partnerships in their grant, they were…

A New Worry From the COVID-19 Crisis: Paying for College 

The College Crusade of Rhode Island, the home of Rhode Island GEAR UP, was recently featured in Education Week, for their response to the current crisis high school seniors are facing: how to pay for college now that everything has changed. Even though students had been planning extensively for a college dream since middle school, the COVID-19 pandemic changed it all. Students were now not only navigating college admissions and college…

OHS GEAR UP seniors reflect on school memories

GEAR UP students in Iowa recently reflected on their GEAR UP experiences and plans for their future. GEAR UP student Mariann Valdez shared her experience, “... [Valdez] got a head start in the program in seventh grade. She visited colleges frequently and became passionate in helping coordinate cultural fairs. ‘Even if I didn’t talk to everyone, not seeing everyone from middle school and high school is going to be different, it’s all gone,’ she said.…

G.E.A.R.U.P., Maui! helps youths seek education, job goals

GEAR UP Maui featured their successful career day event that was held on the University of Hawaii – Maui College campus earlier this year. Representatives from a wide variety of careers were stationed around campus, giving students the opportunity to explore careers and the University of Hawaii – Maui College campus. “...We are starting the conversation. And the first thing I do every time is to take a Hawaiian value and integrate it…

Our Postsecondary Success Initiative

Oregon GEAR UP recently featured their successful postsecondary partnership initiative. They have partnered with seven area community colleges to bolster their first year programming for GEAR UP students. "We are very happy to support innovation at community colleges around the state as they develop programs to support low-income and first-generation students," said Stephanie Carnahan, the Oregon GEAR UP program director. Postsecondary institutions will…

Juliette Caire pulls $13 million grant, invests in El Paso Youth

GEAR UP Grant Directors are leaders our community turns to, and leaders NCCEP turns to, for guidance on how to serve our communities best. They are dedicated to the GEAR UP mission, to their students, and to their families. One director in El Paso, Texas was recently featured for her longstanding success at the University of Texas, El Paso. Juliette Caire has led GEAR UP in the region since 2001 and has brought millions of dollars…

Hazard BOE receives update on Gear Up SOAR

Earlier this year, GEAR UP SOAR goals and outcomes were presented to Hazard Independent Schools Board of Education. Jan Maggard, a representative from the Berea Partners for Education program shared the impact GEAR UP was making on the local community and emphasized the importance of their stakeholder support. GEAR UP SOAR reported, “the grant has served 259 students in the district, and more than 2,000 hours of service have been put into the program."