Paducah Innovation Hub reaches out to middle schools for Regional Robotics Rally

Students with the West Kentucky Educational Cooperative recently participated in a computer science initiative at their schools through GEAR UP. Students used Sphero — a round robot that rolls on command from a tablet — during their visit. “Sphero robots allow them to do basic maneuvering and operations and also to do block coding to complete challenges,” explained Tim Franklin, the makerspace director of the…

Speed Reading for GEAR UP Wyoming students

Last month, GEAR UP Wyoming sophomores participated in a speed reading and memory workshop at Grand Rapids Community College. Participants learned strategies to improve reading comprehension and retention and attended ArtPrize, an outdoor art competition, in downtown Grand Rapids. 

While colleges go test-optional, Indiana juniors prepare for a new SAT requirement

The State of Indiana recently changed its annual standardized exam from the ISTEP to the SAT. The change takes effect with the 2023 graduating class. Indiana GEAR UP is featured for preparing students and teachers with SAT boot camps and professional development training. Approximately 500 teachers participated in trainings over the summer where they reviewed test-taking strategies and sample questions to help…

GEAR UP Achievers Hosts Three Weeks of STEM Summer Camps

GEAR UP Achievers, through the University of Washington, partnered with higher education institutions and private/non-profit organizations to host virtual/hybrid STEM summer camps earlier this summer. Ninth and tenth grade students from South King County received boxes of camp materials in the mail so they had the option to participate remotely or at a socially-distanced, mask-required in-person experience. Students explored topics like…

Supporting homeless students through a pandemic: COVID relief funds expand the impact of Project Hope

GEAR UP Virginia recently partnered with Project HOPE Virginia and ECMC to pilot a 6-month professional development series to support college students experiencing homelessness in Virginia higher education institutions. College professionals in institutions with a high number of GEAR UP students were invited to receive training as Single Points Of Contact (SPOCs). The initial cohort,…

Valley schools celebrate GEAR UP Week 2021

Arizona State University GEAR UP was recently highlighted for their work in supporting students, families, and educators through the challenges of the past year. Tolleson Union High School 10th grader Malachi Burress, who has been a GEAR UP student since his seventh-grade year at Maryland Elementary School, said that the program has already helped him a lot. “My experience in GEAR UP has been fun. Every time I struggle they have been there to support.…

GEAR UP’ program prepares students in underserved communities for college

Providing college readiness services like test preparation, college visits, and career exploration, GEAR UP Connecticut was featured for the impact of the program across the state. Christina Lapierre, Connecticut’s project director for GEAR UP, explained, “We’re working with these students in what we call a ‘cohort model’ which is where we follow these students from starting in seventh grade. Right now they’re in ninth…

Social and Emotional Learning Implementation with Latinx Learners 

GEAR UP students, educators, and administrators from 14 middle schools in Texas’ Region One Education Service Center (ESC), participated in a project with ACT to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on students’ learning. Students took the Mosaic™ by ACT®: Social Emotional Learning assessment and data showed they reacted positively and had perceived learning gains. Dr. Alex Casillas, a principal research psychologist at…

MSU Explore: Earth and Space Science Camp immerses students in STEM fields

GEAR UP students across Montana recently spent five days at Montana State University at the MSU Explore: Earth and Space Science Camp. Hosted by MSU Academic Technology and Outreach (ATO), students from underserved communities had the opportunity to participate in hands-on STEM activities and learn more about the college experience. “As time goes on you see these kids come back to MSU for field trips with their high…