GEAR UP celebrates $21 million federal grant renewal

College admission program receives funding for next seven years of student support

October 15, 2012

GEAR UP celebrates $21 million federal grant renewal

College admission program receives funding for next seven years of student support

October 15, 2012

The Nevada State GEAR UP program recently celebrated 11 years of helping students succeed academically as well as the renewal of the federal GEAR UP grant funded for $21 million at a recognition celebration Oct. 10. The event took place in front of the University of Nevada, Reno College of Education's William J. Raggio Building and recognized GEAR UP students currently enrolled at the University, Dean's Future Scholars, and GEAR UP students attending Traner and Vaughn Middle Schools.

Gaining Early Awareness and Education for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP), is a college admission program that has helped 4,000 high school graduates successfully pursue their academic goals statewide. The $21 million grant renewal will support another 5,000 students over the next seven years.

Heather Hardy, University of Nevada, Reno executive vice president and provost, and Pedro Martinez, Washoe County School District Superintendent, started the event by recognizing the success of the program and congratulating the students on their achievements. Stephanie Tyler, AT&T Nevada president, and Chad Osorno from Wells Fargo Northern Nevada, both sponsors of GEAR UP, also spoke to congratulate the scholars.

Two students, Amber Burroughs and Humberto Guzman, gave testimonials on the ways GEAR UP has changed their academic futures.

"GEAR UP motivated me to keep going in school, helped me gain early admission in college and helped me get many other scholarships," Guzman, a freshman at the University of Nevada, Reno and Hug High School graduate, said in his speech. "I want to say thank you to GEAR UP and its partners and to Mrs. Ford, my old principal, for believing in me. I hope all of you will be here when I walk across that Quad at graduation and that I can make you proud."

There are currently 2,700 GEAR UP students in the seventh grade in selected middle schools across the state of Nevada, with an additional 2,700 estimated for the 2013-14 cohort. Students in GEAR UP receive a variety of college preparatory experiences, including educational enrichment, tutoring, mentoring, field trips to colleges/universities, financial aid training, college entrance assessments, summer college camp and summer school.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jim Guthrie has said of the program, "Students from low-income families deserve access to the finest college preparatory programs coupled with financial assistance to attend postsecondary schools. GEAR UP affords our students, families and schools the opportunity to achieve their goals."

For more information about the Nevada State GEAR UP Program, contact Charlotte Curtis at (775) 687-9243 or ccurtis@doe.nv.gov.

October 15, 2012

Editor's Picks

Two bike riders along a paved path with views of pine trees and Lake Tahoe.

Earth Month events focus on increasing campus sustainably, gardening, thrifting and more
Kendra Isable.

Anthropology doctoral candidate places second in regional Three-Minute Thesis Competition
A photo collage with all the faculty members mentioned in the article.

A look at careers of substance and impact
Woman holding a microphone, an image of a rocket in the background.

NASA astronaut Eileen Collins shares stories at Women in Space event
Latest From

Nevada Today

Education & Public Service

Center for Urban Water Conservation celebrates 30 years of research

Public invited to tours, presentations and native plant sale

A row of wine grapes in an orchard.
4/18/2024
Education & Public Service

Reno/Sparks selected to be part of Urban Heat Mapping Campaign

The summer 2024 effort will involve community volunteers and is supported by the National Institutes of Health, NOAA, Climate.gov and Heat Watch

A boy works with a woman to affix a device to a passenger car window. The device looks like a mallet with a long handle.
4/18/2024
Impact & Student Success

College of Education and Human Development hosts awards ceremony

This year, 24 awards were given to outstanding students, faculty and staff in the College during the Spring Celebration

NCED team with Dean Easton-Brooks accepting their award.
4/19/2024
Health & Medicine

A passion for learning: Ph.D. candidate reflects on the importance of growing from mistakes

Lauren Parker studies cellular molecular pharmacology and physiology

Headshot of Lauren Parker
4/19/2024
Education & Public Service

Join Extension to celebrate Arbor Day with a tree planting ceremony

Registered attendees will have the opportunity to learn from arborists and win a prize

A desert museum palo verde tree.
4/17/2024
Media & Society

Journalism school hosts 59th Scripps Dinner and Lecture, honors four students with scholarships

Steven Waldman, founder and president of Rebuild Local News, was this year’s Scripps lecturer

Four student scholarship recipients, each with a gold medal around their necks.
4/16/2024
Health & Medicine

Wilderness medicine program director leads a life of adventure

Wilderness and sports medicine specialist Arthur "Tony" Islas, M.D., wields his expertise on and off the path

David Fiore and Arthur Islas holding up a sign that says "Wilderness Medicine" in a forest next to a waterfall.
4/16/2024
Research & Innovation

Grand opening of new School of Public Health building

Ribbon cutting ceremony marks the new home of the School of Public Health at the Edna S. Brigham Building

A cheerleader, Brian Sandoval, Muge Akpinar and Jeff Thompson smiling while holding large commemorative scissors at the School of Public Health's ribbon cutting ceremony.
4/17/2024