McAlester GEAR UP students recently toured EOSC (Eastern Oklahoma State College) in Wilburton, Okla. The day started with EOSC Recruiters Karen Darby and Hannah Truitt greeting students at the E.E. Tourtellotte Student Center. Darby gave an overview of EOSC, which highlighted the admissions process, campus housing, degree programs offered, and tuition cost, which is one of the lowest in the state. Students were then given a tour of the campus that included the Nursing department, radio station, Meats Lab, music department, and Johnston Hall. Students began in the Nursing Department in Gunning Hall. Darby explained how the nursing students learn how to handle real-life situations by working with the various types of mannequins (also referred to as simulators) in the skills labs. Darby talked about the EOSC admission process to the respiratory therapy program, LPN, and RN nursing programs. Upon completion of these programs, students can take a National Board test and become licensed in these fields. From the Nursing Department, students visited Pratt Hall where they toured the music department learning about scholarship opportunities and learning about the three music tracks EOSC offers. Next, on the tour students visited the Meats Lab where they received information on the newly renovated facility and programs offered to students. Students learned that EOSC is the institution in Oklahoma and surrounding states that offer an associate of applied science degree in meat processing and food safety. After touring the Meats Lab students visited the Mountaineer Radio Station located in Baker Hall. The Mix 93.1 is the campus radio station. Eastern students have the opportunity to get real-life experience in the broadcasting industry by interning at the radio station. Lastly, students toured Johnston Hall, where they viewed a college dorm room and learned about the different student support services available to students. Students were provided lunch by Great Western Dining while at Eastern Oklahoma State College. 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.