Since 2014, we have watched (and participated in) the nation's school communities celebrate their graduating high school seniors and their accomplishments as part of the Reach Higher initiative. Well, this year is no different, but we want to add a twist to our GEAR UP 2021 College Signing Day or Decision Day celebrations. We ask you, yes you, all GEAR UP Directors, Coordinators, Family Engagement Specialists, and even Evaluators to LEVEL UP! ICYDK, LEVEL UP means "to go to a higher level or standard," according to Cambridge Dictionary.

To that end, let us set the record straight and show the nation (and hopefully the world) how we do it – we celebrate the GEAR UP Way by recognizing our students with virtual and safely in-person events beginning in May and throughout the entire summer! 

Our goal is to get our GEARUP community all on the same page. We also want to leave room for your ground-breaking ideas, pioneering strategies, and state-of-the-art implementation plans. Here are five quick tips to accelerate your College Signing Day or Decision Day celebrations.

GEAR UP, LEVEL UP Tip #1: You have decided to host a virtual or safely in-person College Signing Day or Decision Day. The first step is to pull your GEAR UP committee together and map out your celebration plan. Check out Microsoft's Create a Timeline article for some quick tips. After setting your event date(s), visit BetterMakeRoom.org/CollegeSigningDay to register your celebration(s). 

GEAR UP, LEVEL UP Tip #2: Download the College Signing Day Toolkit to get a set of "plug and play" ideas, including how to help your students create their swag at little to no cost. The toolkit also provides some great strategies for including and recognizing your elementary and middle school students. 

GEAR UP, LEVEL UP Tip #3: Encourage all your GEAR UP students, families, and school community partners to join in on the festivities. Remember to contact your local colleges and collaborative partners to invite them to be a part of your events. You might (or might not) be surprised as to who will be delighted to engage and support this GEAR UP initiative.   

GEAR UP, LEVEL UP Tip #4: Stay connected via social media, and remember to tweet, retweet, like, and comment on your fellow GEAR UP colleagues' social media outlets. Remember to @mention #GEARUPWorks, @edpartnerships, @BetterMakeRoom, @ReachHigher, and #CollegeSigningDay!  

GEAR UP, LEVEL UP Tip #5: We want to share your videos and photos of your College Signing Day or Decision Day celebrations! Send us pictures and videos of your celebrations, and we will post them throughout May to celebrate your GEAR UP students' college and career decisions. Please send your photos or videos to us by completing this form. Or email them to us at governmentrelations@edpartnerships.org.

Bonus GEAR UP, LEVEL UP Tips: Check out NCCEP's live webinar recording, "GEAR UP, LEVEL UP: College Signing Day with Reach Higher." ICYDK, your fellow GEAR UP Quad members Jana Burd, Kate Clarno, Dawn Cooper, MaeAnna Edwards, Melissa Fast, Juliette Funes, Stacey Garrett, Jeannine Huenemann, Nikki Liles, Maria Lillrose, Melanie Martin, Megan Mossman, Cathy Printon, Hector Ponce, Ashton Ray, Mahogany Woods already are a step ahead (but it's easy to catch up 😊). They registered and attended the live webinar! Remember NCCEP Members, you can view this webinar, and all past webinars, on the Quad, your private online community! 

A big "Thank You" to Reach Higher and Better Make Room for paving the way for our GEAR UP community to celebrate College Signing Day and Decision Day the GEAR UP Way! 

Post a comment below and share your GEAR UP program's College Signing Day or Decision Day tips, strategies, and resources!