Fifty-six Spiro eighth grade GEAR UP students recently toured NSU (Northeastern State University) in Tahlequah. Students began the day at the W. Roger Webb Educational Technology Center where they were greeted by NSU Campus Visit Program Graduate Assistant Bailey Rush and NSU Student Ambassadors, Brittany Waters, Cheyenne Jones, and Tim Gardenhigh. Rush presented students with an overview of NSU, including information about admissions and scholarships, campus life activities, and degree programs. After the presentation, students began to tour NSU’s campus. The first stop on the tour was Seminary Hall, the oldest building on campus. The next stops on the tour were Centennial Plaza and Bagley Hall. The Centennial Plaza is a gathering place established on the 100th anniversary of the founding of NSU. A bronze statue of Sequoyah, which stands as a symbol for the strong relationship NSU has had with the Cherokee Nation since the 1800s, is the focal point of the Centennial Plaza. Bagley Hall is home to the College of Education; it houses a Robotics and STEAM lab. The STEAM Lab, which is a studio dedicated to promoting and enhancing student interest in science, technology, engineering, art, and math through the use of innovative, immersive, and interactive exploration. The last stop on the tour was at the John Vaughn Library, where they learned about the different services the library has to offer.
“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. Eastern received a $17 million federal GEAR UP grant in 2017 and will serve more than 3,000 students in 39 area schools for seven years.