LeFlore GEAR UP students tour Eastern Oklahoma State College

LeFlore 7th and 8th grade GEAR UP students recently traveled to Wilburton to tour Eastern Oklahoma State College. Eastern Oklahoma State College is a public community college offering associate degree and certification programs. Students visited the nursing department, radio station, science department, the library, and student center.

Recruiter Karen Darby led the tour and spoke to the students about the importance of college and the opportunities that Eastern can give them because it is close to home and has a low student-to-faculty ratio.

Students began their tour in the nursing department in Gunning Hall. Darby explained how the nursing students learn how to handle real–life situations by working with the various types of mannequins (also referred to as simulators) in the skills labs. The mannequins provide hands–on clinical experience by replicating symptoms, diseases and conditions. The students looked at mannequins of different sizes and ages.

The next stop was the Bill H. Hill Library where Eastern’s Librarian Maria Martinez discussed the importance of using a library and explained the differences in a high school and college library. Students went on a scavenger hunt to learn how to navigate the Dewey Decimal System in a college library.

From the library, they entered Sullivan Hall where the science and math courses happen. Science instructor David Juarez explained how science affects our lives every day. Juarez talked about the importance of science and math courses and the different career opportunities available. Students looked through the room and saw different specimens that, as an Eastern student, they would get to work with in class.

Students ended the tour at the Mountaineer Radio Station, located in Baker Hall. The Mix 93.1 is the campus radio station. Eastern students have the opportunity to get real life experience in the broadcasting industry by interning at the radio station. LeFlore students visited with Mountaineer Radio General Manager and on-air personality “Dougo” Sims, and saw the studio where the radio personalities produce the programming.

Throughout the tour, Darby showed LeFlore students where various departments are located on campus.

“College tours are an important part of Eastern’s GEAR UP program,” said GEAR UP Education Coordinator Tara Martin. “The students enjoyed getting a first-hand look of what a college campus is about.”

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.

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