GEAR UP Works!

National GEAR UP Week Celebration Announced in Elk Grove

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
September 7, 2012

CONTACT:
Elizabeth Graswich
EGUSD Director, Communications
916-686-7732
egraswic@egusd.net

Fort Thomas GEAR UP student participates in Washington, D.C., event

Posted: Wednesday, August 29, 2012 4:45 am

By Rikki Lynn Woods

Fort Thomas High School junior Kendra McCabe was selected to participate in a Youth Congress at the National Council for Community and Education Partnerships National Conference in July. GEAR UP students from throughout the country were invited to apply for the event, and McCabe was among the 900 students selected. The Youth Congress provides leadership training and curriculum in mathematics and science.

The group was also treated to a special presentation by Dr. Mayim Bialik, who currently plays Amy Farrah Fowler on the TV show “The Big Bang Theory.” In addition to her acting career, Bialik has also completed a Ph.D. in neuroscience.

“The highlight of the conference was learning how to break a board karate-style,” McCabe said. “Our instructors had us write down something that was holding us back on the board and then taught us how to get into the mindset to break it. I didn’t think I could actually do it, but it felt great when I broke that board!”

Outside of the conference, McCabe had the opportunity to explore Washington, D.C. She said, “I really loved Washington, D.C. It is a beautiful city, and I enjoyed seeing many of the things I will be learning about in my American history class this year.” She also visited Capitol Hill and the office of Arizona Congressman Paul Gosar.

“The purpose of the GEAR UP program is to significantly increase the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education,” said GEAR UP director Carter McEuen. EAC GEAR UP serves more than 900 students throughout Arizona. Pima, Fort Thomas, San Carlos, Globe, Miami, Payson and Chinle school districts are currently participating in the program.

For more information about the GEAR UP program contact McEuen at (928) 428-8234.

Pep rally helps students “GEAR UP” for the future

GEAR UP IV Rally to Attract 10,000 with Higher Education Focus

LAREDO -  Almost 10,000 local and regional area eighth and 12th graders will descend on the Laredo Energy Arena, Tuesday, Sept. 18 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. for the historic offering of the first Student Leadership Conference-GEAR UP IV (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) Prep Rally.

The high-energy event, dubbed “Today’s Learners, Tomorrow’s Leaders,” is designed to help prepare teens become engaged in post-secondary education and the opportunities it provides them to move their lives forward.  

Organizers hope that by encouraging the students to “keep the end in mind,” they will create a highly motivated and educated workforce to sustain the region’s growth for years to come, explained Dr. Rick Moreno, director of the Texas A&M International University GEAR UP IV program, which is presenting the Rally free of charge to participants.

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California GEAR UP Middle Schools Selected

May 24, 2012 (Sacramento, CA) – California GEAR UP is pleased to announce the 48 schools selected to advance to the 2012-2017 California GEAR UP Implementation Phase.   Through a highly competitive process, these schools were chosen from 168 applicants to the program. The goal of California GEAR UP is to provide a network of support for schools towards implementing long-term, sustainable strategies to create a college-going culture.  We look forward to their growth and success as we collaborate to achieve this common purpose.

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GEAR UP success expands with $30 million grant to NAU

Northern Arizona University has been awarded a seven-year, $30 million grant to expand the Arizona GEAR UP program to include new schools and serve more students statewide.

GEAR UP, or Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs, is a national program intended to help low-income students graduate from high school prepared to succeed in college. The grant, awarded by the U.S. Department of Education, will be matched in value by non-federal sources to bring the total cost of the project to $60 million.

The program is based on research that has shown the effectiveness of early, long-term intervention and awareness. NAU will begin working with approximately 4,000 seventh graders in select schools in rural, low-income areas of the state in July and will continue serving these students for seven years, through their freshman year of college.

“The work of GEAR UP is a clear example of the commitment of Northern Arizona University to the success of all of Arizona’s young people,” said Daniel Kain, NAU vice provost for Academic Personnel and principal investigator for the program.

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$180,000 for Montana GEAR UP Matched Educational Savings Accounts

Montana GEAR UP is thrilled to announce that the Montana Credit Unions for Community Development was just awarded a $180,000 Assets For Independence grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Grant for the benefit of Montana GEAR UP and Montana Tech students.  This grant will be used to fund Matched Educational Savings Accounts (MESA).  The $180,000 in federal funds will be matched by an additional $100,000 from NeighborWorks Montana, $50,000 from the Student Assistance Foundation, and $30,000 from Montana GEAR UP.

Students who are selected for the program will be required to make monthly deposits of $25 which will be matched at a rate of 5:1.  The goal is for participating students to save $500 towards college, with a match of $2,500 for a total college savings fund of $3,000.  In order to qualify for the MESA program, students and families must meet income requirements of being below twice the federal poverty line – or 200 percent of poverty, along with having less than $10,000 in assets (excluding home & one vehicle).  Students who meet the asset and income requirements will be encouraged by their GEAR UP coordinator to enroll in the MESA program during their junior or senior year of high school.  Additionally, students will be required to complete at least 10 hours of financial literacy training. 

Students from low-income families who have savings accounts are more likely to attend and complete college.  Personal savings have two main effects on educational attainment:  1) students with savings accounts are better able to afford necessary items like books and other incurred expenses, and 2) students who expect to graduate from a four-year college and have a savings account are about seven times more likely to attend college than students without an account.[i]

This year’s juniors will be the first class invited to take part in the MESA program.  Montana GEAR UP will be working with participating schools in the recruitment of qualifying students to take part in this program.

GEAR UP Kentucky to announce selection of 29 schools

Press Release Date:   Thursday, March 22, 2012  
Contact Information:   Sue Patrick
502-573-1555
Cell: 502-330-6596
Sue.Patrick@ky.gov  

**An embargoed list of schools will be distributed by 11 a.m. EDT today.**

Exceptional photo opportunities will be available.
Follow the launch via Twitter at #GUKlaunch.

GEAR UP Kentucky will announce the 29 schools selected to participate in a new $26.9 million college-readiness grant award on Friday, March 23 at 9:45 a.m. EDT. The announcement will take place at a launch rally at Holmes High School, 2500 Madison Avenue in Covington.

About 450 seventh graders from Holmes Middle School, Newport Middle School and Bellevue High School will be in attendance.

Students in the selected GEAR UP schools will be watching the rally through a live webcast beginning at 10 a.m. (EDT).

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