Fifty- two Hartshorne Public School 8th grade GEAR UP students recently traveled to Poteau to tour Carl Albert State College (CASC). CASC Viking Ambassador D’karre Lynch began the tour with students in Hemphill Hall where the Student Affairs Office is located. Lynch said the Student Affairs office can assist with anything fun on campus.
Students saw the Enrollment Management office where staff assist with scheduling, transfers, and scholarships. Students were advised to visit the Office of Admissions for help with obtaining transcripts and graduation and the Financial Aid office for anything related to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which assists a majority of students with funding expenses related to their college education.
Students were taken to see the Mick Thompson Gym to gain insight into athletic life on campus. Lynch reported basketball programs had been discontinued in 2016 due to funding cuts. However, CASC offers baseball, softball, and men’s and women’s cross country.
Lynch advised students of the Physical Therapy Assistant program offered on campus reporting there was a 100% pass rate and 100% job placement rate following completion of the program. Lynch also stated CASC offered a nursing program for those interested in pursuing a degree in nursing.
Students learned about the music department on campus with scholarship opportunities available for students participating in show choir.
Students were provided lunch in the Costner-Balentine Student Center located on campus. Students had a variety of meal options from which to choose including cereal, salad, hamburgers, bacon wrapped sirloin, chicken sandwiches, ice cream, and soda.
Student, Kimber Wray, said, “My favorite part of the tour was the food. They had ice cream which made my day. They also have good dorms.”
“Today was the best day ever. I had such a great experience, and the food was great!” added Hannah Pingleton.
“Today was a wonderful day at CASC,” said GEAR UP Education Coordinator Stephanie Dow. “Thank you to Hunter Sisemore for arranging the tour of CASC. Students from Hartshorne greatly enjoyed their visit to the campus and did not stop talking about Carl Albert State College. The college was beautiful and students were able to learn a great deal about life on campus.”
Hartshorne 8th grader Keirston Stidmon said, “Today was the most fun I had in years. It was a good day because I got to see what college I wanted to see and I am happy. Thank you!”
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 received a $17 million federal GEAR UP grant and will serve over 3,000 students in 39 area schools for seven years.
