Thirteen Eufaula High School 11th and 12th-grade GEAR UP students recently toured OSU-IT (Oklahoma State University of Technology) in Okmulgee, OK. Upon arrival on campus, the students were greeted by OSU-IT student ambassadors at the Grady Clark Center. Students learned what campus life is like and about the admission requirements for the Nursing and Lineman programs, two programs in which the students seek career opportunities.
The students were separated according to the program of interest and led on a tour of those programs by student ambassadors. During the tour, the students walked through the facilities, met with instructors, and interacted with current students in each program. The instructors discussed what it takes to be accepted, what to expect after being accepted, and employment opportunities and salaries after completing the programs.
The students liked the tour being program-focused and smaller groups because this allowed them to spend more time learning about the program they were interested in and have more time with program instructors to ask questions specific to the program.
The field trip was sponsored by Eastern Oklahoma State College’s GEAR UP program. 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.
