Sixty-six McAlester ninth grade GEAR UP students recently toured SOSU (Southeastern Oklahoma State University) in Durant. Students began the day in the Glen D. Johnson Student Union to meet On-campus Recruiter and Admissions Counselor Sarah Hughes. Hughes began a walking tour of campus where students saw Morrison Hall, the oldest building on campus and home to the education department. Hughes then proceeded to show the students other buildings on campus, such as the Administration Building and the Henry G. Bennett Memorial Library. Students learned about receiving free admission to campus activities, gaining access to free campus parking, and renting textbooks from the library rather than purchasing. Students were offered an additional aspect of campus life when they continued their visit by eating lunch in the cafeteria. After lunch, students learned more about admissions, financial aid, housing, campus life and programs offered at SOSU.

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.