GEAR UP Students Explore Careers During Winter Bootcamp

Over 100 GEAR UP 4 LA students spent a portion of their winter break exploring potential career pathways offered at Los Angeles Trade Tech (LATTC) and East Los Angeles College (ELAC) as part of the first in-person boot camp held since 2020. Over three days of interactive hands-on activities, the Los Angeles Unified students learned about forensic crime scene investigation and medical assistance and life-saving healthcare occupations at…

Will making the FAFSA more ‘fun’ help get Pell grants into students’ pockets?

We know that encouraging students to complete the FAFSA each year can be an uphill battle. As a result, some communities are getting creative with how to get students to complete the application. GEAR UP Louisiana partner, the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOSFA), has started a project challenging schools across the state to a FASFA completion competition. Louisiana is one of only a few states that…

It’s a Wrap on the Classes of 2020 and 2021

GEAR UP for LA concluded services for alumni – most of whom have been with GEAR UP since middle school – in September as they enter the second and third year of their postsecondary journeys equipped with the knowledge, tools and confidence to persist through higher education and pursue their passions. GEAR UP alumnus: “These people were superheroes changing lives. I'm truly honored to be part of such an amazing program.”

Students Pave Pathway to New Math Levels During JEM

Over 600 10th- and 11th-grade students participated in GEAR UP 4 LA's first in-person Jaime Escalante Math (JEM) program since 2019, challenging students to take an accelerated math class in four weeks and get ahead in their math courses and pave a pathway toward taking AP Calculus before they graduate. Of those who completed the program, 81% – an increase of 7 percentage points over last year's virtual program - passed their Algebra 1,…

GEAR UP Wyoming at Van Andel Institute

Godwin Heights High School juniors had the opportunity to explore STEM careers and recently conducted science experiments at the Van Andel Education Institute in Grand Rapids, Michigan. They then visited with a research scientist at the Van Andel Institute (VAI) to learn about lab work, experiment success rates, and STEM pathways. VAI is a strong partner with Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC), the fiscal agent for the GRCC GEAR UP Wyoming grant…

Wyoming Schools at a Crossroads: GEAR UP Wyoming Makes College Possible

GEAR UP Wyoming was recently featured for the success it has brought students, families, and communities throughout the state of Wyoming. The article includes two student spotlights where they discuss how GEAR UP helped them. It also gives an overview of some of the services GEAR UP Wyoming provides. “It’s a really important program to give these kids a glimmer of hope,” Jordyn Chandler, GEAR UP student programming…

Students Explore Self-Empowerment During Oxy Summer Academy

Exploring social justice through the arts isn't new – but for GEAR UP 4 LA students, this summer's inaugural Occidental College Academy was an opportunity to elevate their voices and feel empowered to discuss and explore the societal issues that matter to them while fostering self-awareness, problem-solving, and other characteristics that will enable them to thrive personally and academically. Supported by professors from the private…

West Side students harvesting STEM know-how, with side of veggies, in GEAR UP program – Chicago Tribune

The Indiana GEAR UP STEM event goal was to include students in an unveiling of a new greenhouse at West Side Leadership Academy, an Indiana GEAR UP partner school. Students, parents, administrators, and staff all came together to plant a garden and reveal the new greenhouse. The article highlights the event, the work at the school, and community partnerships that made it possible.

Families Learn Hands-on About ELAC CTE Pathways

To help expose students and their parents to potential career pathways and opportunities available at local community colleges, GEAR UP 4 LA recently took families to East Los Angeles College, where they engaged in hands-on activities with professionals by their side guiding their learning and answering questions. During the trip, GEAR UP families explored ELAC's career technical education pathways – Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and…