Nineteen Tannehill seventh and eighth grade GEAR UP students recently toured East Central University in Ada. Students began the day by dividing into two groups, each being guided by ECU representatives, Chandler Wilson and Alyson Chapman. Students took a walking tour of the campus, learning about many aspects of campus life.
The tours began in the Bill S. Cole University Center where they saw the student recreation areas and fitness center. Students moved to the Memorial Student Union Complex which houses the campus bookstore, health services, and Taff Cafeteria. Students saw Linscheid Library and the Charles F. Spencer Administration Building where they briefly learned about applying to college, financial aid and scholarships, transcripts and other college-related information.
Next, students visited the Lanoy Education Building, Danley Hall, and Science Hall, home to one of the state’s best nursing programs. Students explored most of the Hallie Brown Ford Fine Arts Center, home of the well-known Ataloa Theatre, which is one of the tallest points in the city of Ada. Students also toured most of the Harland C. Stonecipher School of Business, learning about the unique business program ECU offers.
Tour guides, Chandler Wilson, ECU sophomore, and Alyson Chapman, ECU Admissions Recruiter and alumna, told students the best advice they could give is to find a college where you feel you can succeed and get involved. It is up to the student to go to class as well as be active on campus.
“Get involved,” said Chapman. “Studies show your grades are better and you stay in school to complete your degree program when you’re active in and out of the classroom.”
Before lunch, students had the opportunity to ask Wilson and Chapman questions, learning about admission requirements, degree programs, Greek life, cost, scholarships, the campus career center, study abroad opportunities, sporting events, campus and residential life, and much more.
“This was most students’ first tour at a university,” said GEAR UP Education Coordinator Brianna Brassfield. “It was a great tour! It offered a lot of insight to what it would be like as a college student, especially an East Central University Tiger.”
After the tours, students ate lunch on campus in the Taff Cafeteria, offering another experience of life as a college student. During lunch, students shared their favorite parts of the tour and campus.
The field trip was sponsored by Eastern Oklahoma State College GEAR UP. Participating schools take two field trips each academic year—one to tour a college or university and one that is cultural/educational in nature. In 2017, Eastern recently received a $17 million federal GEAR UP grant and will serve over 3,000 students in 39 area schools for seven years.
