UW Schedules National GEAR UP Activities

National GEAR UP Week activities will be organized this week to note the continuing success of the program across the state.

Activities are scheduled through Friday, Sept. 23, to note how the program helps students in the Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP).

GEAR UP is a federally funded college access program providing students and families the support and resources they need for college success. GEAR UP Wyoming, based at the University of Wyoming, collaborates with Wyoming’s seven community colleges to provide services to seventh- through 12th-grade students statewide.

Each site will create awareness for the program during National GEAR UP Week through a variety of activities related to this year’s theme, “One in a Million.”

The GEAR UP program at UW is hosting a dinner and educational workshop for its freshmen students. Additionally, a photo booth headlining the “One in a Million” theme will be available. GEAR UP students and staff will have their photo booth images posted on social media and in upcoming newsletters.

Many of the GEAR UP programs will celebrate the week by recognizing their community partners.

“This year, we wanted to acknowledge our community partners, while also getting the word out about our program,” says Angela Massman, GEAR UP coordinator with Laramie County Community College (LCCC).

LCCC GEAR UP students will create posters, which will be displayed at area businesses on easels. Each poster will say “proud partner” and contain the business logo, as well as the GEAR UP logo.

Eastern Wyoming College’s GEAR UP participants will place blue flags in front of its building to represent all of the GEAR UP students who have been served through the Torrington site.

Central Wyoming College will conduct radio interviews and place posters throughout the Riverton school.

Since its inception in 1999, GEAR UP has improved educational outcomes for millions of students across the United States. In 2015-16, GEAR UP Wyoming served more than 2,229 students in 113 schools and reached 929 teachers through professional development.

GEAR UP Wyoming is funded through a grant from the U.S. Department of Education totaling more than $3.5 million annually, with a matching amount annually provided by in-kind and scholarship contributions.

For more information about GEAR UP Wyoming, call (307) 766-6189 or email gearupwy@uwyo.edu.