Your future, our focus
POWELL, Wyo. - Northwest College will celebrate National GEAR UP Week, Sept. 10-14, by showcasing the difference GEAR UP has made for Wyoming families in the last six years.
Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) provides students and their families the resources the students need to graduate from high school and be successful in college.
Since its inception in 1999, GEAR UP has improved educational outcomes for millions of low-income students across the United States, including 2,278 served by GEAR UP WY from 2005-2011.
GEAR UP WY helped an average of 2,278 low-income students in grades seven-12 each academic year from 2005-2011. An average of 96% of GEAR UP seniors graduated high school each year from 2005-2012, and 77% were enrolled in college by June 2011.
In 2012, 72% of GEAR UP Wyoming students completed the FAFSA, compared to the 26% average in Wyoming and 54% nationally.
The NWC GEAR UP program conducts monthly workshops in Big Horn Basin Schools for seventh-12th grade students. Among the topics covered are how to succeed in the classroom, time management, note taking, how to read a textbook and how to write a successful paper.
The program provides tutoring to students who fall below a 2.5 grade point average and conducts Saturday academies where students learn about different college degree programs and get opportunities for related hands-on experience.
In addition to holding ACT workshops that feature information not available in textbooks, the NWC GEAR UP program provides financial aid workshops for parents, assists with arranging college visits and completing applications for college and scholarships.
This year, GEAR UP’s intense summer programming included a week-long summer academy for 50 students who stayed in NWC residence halls to get a preview of the college’s Outdoor Leadership, Criminal Justice, Athletic Training and Broadcasting degrees. Students received hands-on experience in daily college life and in the careers that they could aspire to with a college degree. They even produced their own radio broadcast.
GEAR UP WY works with parents and students, in conjunction with the schools, to aid students in graduating high school and gaining entrance to college. GEAR UP scholarships are available to eligible students to help defray college costs.
For more information or to enroll in the Northwest College GEAR UP Program, email or call Rob Hill at 307-754-7822.
More information about the national GEAR UP program is available at the National Council for Community and Education Partnerships, 202-530-1135.