Antlers eight grade GEAR UP students recently toured CASC (Carl Albert State College). Students were greeted by Garrett Hayes, Viking Ambassador and a sophomore majoring in Business Communications, and Samantha Lininger, Viking Ambassador and a sophomore majoring in Allied Health.

Students began their tour in Hemphill Hall. It is the administrative building for CASC and houses many offices including Admissions and Financial Aid. Lininger discussed the Scholars Program and how it has helped pay for her education at CASC. She also explained how important it is to apply for scholarships and meet financial aid deadlines when in college.

Students visited several buildings on campus including the Joe E. White Library, Johnson Hall, and a CASC dorm room. Antlers students ended their tour at the Costner-Balentine Student Center where they participated in a question and answer session. Then they enjoyed some free time in the student lounge.

“We had a great tour of Carl Albert State College, and the Student Ambassadors always do a wonderful job,” said GEAR UP Education Coordinator LaDonna Baldwin.

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