Twenty-three McCurtain GEAR UP seventh and eighth grade students recently toured Connors State College (CSC) in Warner. Students began their day at CSC in the Fine Arts Auditorium. CSC Assistant Director of Recruitment Megan Duvall and Director of Recruitment Logan Nero provided an introduction to CSC and gave students a flyer and a CSC Cowboys sticker. The flyer showcased CSC’s academic degrees, campus life, tuition cost (comparing the rates of in-state tuition versus out-of-state tuition costs), financial aid and scholarship assistance, and housing. Nero highlighted the NSU 2+2 Program where students can start at Connors State College and transfer all earned credits towards a Bachelor’s degree at Northeastern State University.
McCurtain students then began a walking tour of CSC. They toured Millers Crossing, a quad dormitory that features single units with four private bedrooms and shared living space. Two students share a bathroom, and each student has a single bedroom. Students walked through Millers Crossing Clubhouse which provides laundry facilities, a study hall, computer lab, mailroom, and a gathering place to meet with friends.
Students roamed through the Education Building and Classroom Building which host a variety of courses. Students toured the Melvin Self Fieldhouse where they admired Connors State Athletic Hall of Fame and walked through CSC’s home basketball court, athletic facilities and training center.
Students toured the Westbrook Library Learning Center which houses the Library, distance education classrooms, and the President’s Office. Students toured the Native American Success & Cultural Center also known as the Student Success Center. The tour concluded in the Student Union where the students visited study labs and dined with current college students.
“College tours are an important part of Eastern’s GEAR UP program as they give students a firsthand look at life as a college student,” said GEAR UP Education Coordinator Bethany Hicks.
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.
