Wister eighth and ninth grade GEAR UP students recently toured CSC (Connors State College) in Warner, Oklahoma. The tour began in the Fine Arts Building. CSC Director of Recruitment Logan Nero and Assistant Director of Recruitment Chandler Young welcomed students to the Connors State College campus. Young provided students with a handout with CSC degree programs, financial aid information, tuition rates, and scholarship information. Nero discussed with students how important it was to explore different colleges, and shared why students should consider becoming a Connors Cowboy. Next, students were led through the Education and Classroom Buildings which host a variety of courses. Students gathered in a classroom as Young discussed professor to student ratios and the importance of attendance in college courses. From the Classroom Building, students visited the Melvin Self Fieldhouse that houses the student workout facilities and gymnasium. Young then led students to the Equine Barn, where they had an inside look at the stables. The students listened as a current CSC Ag major discussed how different majors on campus utilize the stables. The last stop on the tour was the Student Union to eat lunch, CSC dining services are provided by Sodexo, a food services and facilities management company. The students enjoyed eating lunch with Young while asking her more questions about campus life.

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.