News Releases

McAlester 7th grade GEAR UP students tour Bacone College and The Five Civilized Tribes Museum

Forty seven McAlester 7th grade GEAR UP students recently traveled to Muskogee to tour Bacone College and The Five Civilized Tribes Museum. The tour began at the Ginny Palmer Center which houses classrooms, the gym, Warrior Grill, and the cafeteria. Interim Vice President of Student Affairs/Director of Admissions and Recruitment Kaila Harjo, Athletic Compliance Director and Assistant Coach Juan Davis, and Cross Country Coach Phillip Barnoski provided the students with a tour of the campus

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Eufaula GEAR UP seventh graders tour Oral Roberts University

Forty-four GEAR UP students recently traveled to Tulsa to tour Oral Roberts University (ORU). Students began the morning by participating in a guided tour at ORU led by Student Ambassadors Allyson Woods majoring in Environmental Sustainability and Joseph Thomas, a freshman from Montgomery, AL who just changed his major to Business Administration. Eufaula students saw numerous buildings, met ORU students and learned about various programs ORU offers. Students began the tour in front of the

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Eufaula GEAR UP seventh graders tour Tulsa Community College

Fifty-one GEAR UP students recently traveled to Tulsa to tour the Southeast Campus of Tulsa Community College (TCC). Students were welcomed to campus by Admissions Counselors William Baldwin and Lucia McFarland. Students were met with an ice-breaker question: What is your name and your biggest fear? Many students listed spiders, snakes, heights and other animals/insects. The chaperones and Admissions Counselors even listed their fears to the students. It was interesting to hear the commonalities. Students

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GEAR UP Local Education Agency Representatives Attend 2018 Partnership Meeting

Eastern Oklahoma State College’s GEAR UP program hosted its annual partnership meeting for area school superintendents, principals, counselors and lead teachers. More than 115 met to learn how the college’s $17 million GEAR UP grant will help them prepare students for postsecondary education. Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) is a federal initiative to increase the number of low-income students who enter and successfully transition into postsecondary education. In 2017, Eastern

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Tannehill GEAR UP students tour East Central University

Nineteen Tannehill seventh and eighth grade GEAR UP students recently toured East Central University in Ada. Students began the day by dividing into two groups, each being guided by ECU representatives, Chandler Wilson and Alyson Chapman. Students took a walking tour of the campus, learning about many aspects of campus life. The tours began in the Bill S. Cole University Center where they saw the student recreation areas and fitness center. Students moved to the

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Indianola Public School Teachers receive professional development training

The Eastern Oklahoma State College GEAR UP Professional Development team brought Motivational Classroom Management to Indianola Schools recently. Teachers were eager to learn something new and add some excitement to their classrooms. “A lot goes into motivating students,” said GEAR UP Professional Development Coordinator John Spiegel. “We love seeing educators extend and grow their pedagogical outlooks.” Teachers explored different strategies to motivate students, discovered how learning styles affect classroom management, and learned modern motivational tools.

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Krebs 7th grade GEAR UP students tour Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden

Krebs 7th grade GEAR UP students recently traveled to Oklahoma City to tour the Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden. The tour began at the Rosser Conservation Education Center. Education Instructor Tess Botkin presented the program “Animal SOS” to the GEAR UP students. She discussed threats to animals including habitat destruction, invasive species, pollution, poaching, and over harvesting, as well as how individuals can assist with conservation. Botkin introduced the students to Mischief, an albino

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Porum GEAR UP seventh graders tour Oral Roberts University

Thirty-six Porum GEAR UP students recently traveled to Tulsa to tour Oral Roberts University (ORU). Students began the morning by participating in a guided tour at ORU led by Student Ambassadors Jordan Rollinson, a sophomore from Fort Worth, TX majoring in Business Administration and Joseph Thomas, a freshman from Montgomery, AL majoring in International Business and Management. Porum students saw numerous buildings and learned about various programs on campus. Founded to educate the whole person—spirit,

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Frink-Chambers 7th grade GEAR UP students tour the Eufaula Dam Operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Twenty-eight Frink-Chambers seventh grade GEAR UP students recently toured the Eufaula Dam operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers near Porum. Construction of the Eufaula Dam began in December 1956 to provide flood control, water supply, hydroelectric power, and navigation to the area. The project was completed in February 1964 and began full flood control. Five months later, power was generated. Students began the tour by breaking into three small groups led by U.S.

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Rattan 7th grade GEAR UP students explore The Museum of the Red River

Seventh grade students from Rattan recently explored The Museum of the Red River in Idabel. The Museum is home to 30,000 cultural objects from six continents, and Oklahoma’s State Dinosaur, Acrocanthosaurus atokensis. Its exhibition program includes temporary and permanent displays, with the majority using objects drawn from its collections. The museum is hosting the exhibit Arts of the Pacific Northwest. The art of the Northwest Coast typically consists of highly stylized designs that represent people,

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Over 1,100 students participate in “Road Trip” during the 11th Annual 8th Grade Career & College EXPO

Over 1,100 8th grade students from 41 area schools attended the 11th Annual 8th Grade Career & College EXPO. Students browsed career booths and participated in the “Road Trip.” The Road Trip, sponsored by Eastern Oklahoma State College GEAR UP, simulated the game of Life® as students made life-changing financial decisions. Members of the Paradigm Shift team created the “real life world” atmosphere. As students entered the room, they were given a handout with various

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Frink-Chambers 8th Grade GEAR UP Students Participates in the People Inc. You and Family Services Ropes Course

Thirty-four Frink-Chambers eighth grade GEAR UP students recently participated in the People Inc. Youth and Family Services Ropes Course in Sallisaw, Oklahoma. The ropes course is a component of the People Inc. Youth and Family Services, which provides youth participants the opportunity to complete a variety of activities that contain mental, physical, and emotional challenges in a safe setting. The ropes course helps participants discover their personal courage and strengths, enhance self- confidence and esteem,

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Eastern GEAR UP and Texas Instruments partner to provide technology and training for area math and science teachers at KTC in Poteau

Twenty-six area middle school math and science teachers recently participated in a three-day workshop at the Kiamichi Technology Center in Poteau sponsored by Eastern Oklahoma State College GEAR UP. The workshop was designed to help them integrate technology effectively and successfully into instruction. The beginners training was conducted by Texas Instruments (TI) Specialists Doug Roberts and Mike Smith. At the conclusion of the training, each teacher was presented with a TI Navigator system including 30

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Howe GEAR UP students tour Science Museum Oklahoma

Howe 7th and 8th grade GEAR UP students recently visited Science Museum Oklahoma. The two-story museum consists of a wide-array of hands-on activities that allows students to have fun in an engaging way. Students roamed, ran, and played while learning about various science principles. The museum, as well as the name, has evolved since its creation in 1958. The mission of Science Museum Oklahoma (formerly known as the Omniplex Science Museum) is to enrich people’s

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Eastern Oklahoma State College GEAR UP Hosts Bill Cordes for Motivational Speech to Students During National GEAR UP Week

In celebration of National GEAR UP Week, over 2,000 7th and 8th grade students from Southeast Oklahoma engaged in a “YOGOWYPI” moment with Bill Cordes at Wilburton High School gymnasium and at the Donald W. Reynolds Community Center in Poteau. Students heard a great message on succeeding in school and getting the most out of life. After all, “You Only Get Out What You Put In!” The event were sponsored by Eastern Oklahoma State College’s

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Eastern GEAR UP and Texas Instruments partner to provide technology and training for area math and science teachers

Twenty-eight area middle school math and science teachers recently participated in a three-day workshop sponsored by Eastern Oklahoma State College GEAR UP. The workshop was designed to help them integrate technology effectively and successfully into instruction. The beginners training was conducted by Texas Instruments (TI) Specialists Sandra Hocutt and Cassie Whitecotton. At the conclusion of the training, each teacher was presented with a TI Navigator system including 30 handhelds. “We are excited to continue Phase

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GEAR UP Provides Professional Development Services to Area Schools

Professional Development Coordinator John Spiegel and Assistant to the Professional Development Coordinator Kathy Ramsey spent several days recently in area schools providing training to their teachers. Topics included Motivational Classroom Management and Poverty in Education (Ruby Payne.) John and Kathy are available throughout the year to provide teacher in-service and training on a broad selection of topics. Frink-Chambers Counselor Donna Curry participates in an exercise during the Motivational Classroom Management workshop presented by GEAR UP

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Eastern delegation attends 2018 NCCEP/GEAR UP Annual Conference in Washington, DC

Thirty-two students, chaperones, superintendents and GEAR UP team members recently attended the 2018 NCCEP/GEAR UP Annual Conference “Calling All Superheroes” in Washington, DC. The group spent three days touring Villanova University New York University, and Columbia University, as well as historical sites in Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York City, and Washington, DC. As the conference activities began, the eight students—Arianna Garcia, Panola; Jerry Hurt, Keota; Desarae Jordan, Rattan; Parker Judkins, Talihina; Carlye Kennedy, McAlester; Dre Spring,

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McAlester 6th Grade GEAR UP Visits the Skeletons Museum of Osteology

Thirty-eight McAlester sixth grade GEAR UP students recently visited the Skeletons: Museum of Osteology in Oklahoma City, Okla. The museum is so unique that it has been featured on national television programs, such as Modern Marvels and Dirty Jobs. Students were divided into two groups for the day. Group one started the day by participating in one of the museum’s 12 educational programs while Group two participated in a scavenger hunt throughout the museum. After

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Panola GEAR UP students tour the Oklahoma Aquarium

Panola GEAR UP students recently visited the Oklahoma Aquarium in Jenks. Students toured the aquarium and was given a behind–the–scenes tour of the kitchen where they prepare meals for all the exhibits and a behind–the–scenes tour of the shark tank. Panola students identifying multiple aquatic species along the way. The students started the walkthrough by visiting the Amazing Intervertebrates exhibit. Students touched and learned about starfish and stingrays. Next on the walkthrough they visited the

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