Wilburton 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 were presented with an overview of NSU. After the presentation. Students visited the University Center which is home to several offices, the RiverHawk Shoppe, and the Underground Food Court that provides a variety of fast food choices for students. The next stop was the Centennial Plaza; this is a gathering place established on the 100th anniversary of the founding of NSU. A bronze statue of Sequoyah is the focal point of the Centennial Plaza, which stands as a symbol of the strong relationship NSU has had with the Cherokee Nation since the 1800s. The students visited the John Vaughn Library where they learned about the different services available to students. From the Library, they visited the Haskell Hall and Gregg Wadley College of Science & Health Professions while the guides answered student questions and offered valuable advice. The tour ended at the Second Century Square, a multipurpose space for concerts, Greek life events, and daily gatherings.
Junior High Principal Kyle Vanderburg was impressed with the campus tour. He stated, “I never realized how beautiful this campus was until today.”
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 over 3,000 students in 39 area schools for seven years.
