Seventh grade GEAR UP students from Hartshorne Public School recently traveled to Poteau to tour Carl Albert State College (CASC). The tour began at Hemphill Hall where Viking Ambassadors Gloria Evans and Sam Lininger advised students they could enroll, receive assistance with residency, request transcripts, and apply for graduation. ACT testing is offered to students in the Student Success Center. Students were shown Johnson Hall where they could receive assistance from Student Support Services including evaluation of monthly grade sheets.

Evans and Lininger encouraged students to apply to the nursing program with a minimum score of 20 on the ACT, with 40 students accepted each year.

Students viewed a CASC dorm room. Students learned a dorm room containing two twin beds, bathtub, shower, and sink, with roommate would cost $2,000 per semester. Students who wished to have their own room would spend $2,800 per semester.

Students were provided lunch in the Costner-Balentine Student Center located on campus with students receiving a variety of meal options including cereal, salad, hamburgers, chicken sandwiches, ice cream, and soda.

“I would come to Carl Albert for the food,” said Hartshorne student Ella Burke.

Several students remarked about the exceptional quality of meals offered on campus. While in the Student Center, students enjoyed the rec room, playing ping pong, arcade games, and other games offered to enrolled students.

“I liked the dorms and each room offering a bathroom,” said Sofia Camp.

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.