Twenty-six Whitesboro GEAR UP students recently toured the University of Arkansas campus in Ft. Smith. Students met tour guide Haylie West, a sophomore nursing major at the Smith-Pendergraft Campus Center.

West led students across campus and described the programs offered in each building. Buildings included the Math-Science Building, the Pendergraft Health Sciences Building and the Boreham Library.

Students toured the Recreation and Wellness Center (RWC) was next. The RWC houses a climbing wall, ball courts, exercise equipment, and hosts various fitness classes. Students traveled to the Baldor Technology Center and the Wingate Art & Design Building. The Wingate Art & Design Building houses photography, printing, sculpture, and art history, as well as freshmen programs in drawing, 2-D design, 3-D design, typography, and digital imaging.

After touring the academic buildings, students went to the Lion’s Den Residence Hall and toured a dorm room. They also participated in a question-and-answer session about residence life.

“Haylie did a wonderful job of leading our students on the campus tour,” said GEAR UP Education Coordinator LaDonna Baldwin. “I look forward to visiting the University of Arkansas Ft. Smith again.”

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 serves over 3,000 students in 39 area schools for seven years.