News Releases

GEAR UP Educators attend an event with Ruby Payne

Sixteen local educators from partner GEAR UP schools recently participated in Ruby Payne’s Emotional Poverty train the trainer certification event held at Eastern Oklahoma State College in Wilburton, OK. The program provides tools for educators to address and reduce anger, anxiety, and avoidance along with how to manage the “classroom dance” that occurs between the educator and the students. Over her distinguished career, Payne has worked as a teacher and principal, written K–12 curricula in

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GEAR UP Hosts Motivational Speaking Event

In celebration of the upcoming National GEAR UP week, over 700 juniors and seniors from eastern Oklahoma recently traveled to Wilburton High School to participate in a motivational speaking event featuring Carlos Ojeda Jr, founder and CEO of Coolspeak: The Youth Engagement Company. Carlos shared with students his personal journey and the struggles he faced as a young person growing up in a New Jersey inner city. Gang violence prompted his immigrant parents to move

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GEAR UP High School Math and Science Teachers Receive Texas Instruments Training

Ten area high school math and science teachers recently participated in a Texas Instruments workshop at Eastern Oklahoma State College in Wilburton. GEAR UP provides technology and training to math and science programs within the partnering schools in Southeast Oklahoma. The workshops were designed to help teachers integrate the TI-Nspire Navigator Systems and rovers effectively into classroom instruction, which helps students explore, understand and connect the principles of science, math, coding engineering design, and electronics.

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2022 NCCEP/GEAR UP Annual Conference in Washington, DC

Twenty-one students, chaperones, and GEAR UP team members recently attended the 2022 NCCEP/GEAR UP Annual Conference in Washington, DC. The group spent four days touring Temple University and Columbia University, as well as historical sites in New Jersey, Philadelphia, New York City, and Washington, DC. As the conference activities began, the five students—Beau Flanagan, Poteau; Katie Hollingsworth, Clayton; Sara Skelton, Panama; Alyssa West, Coalgate; and ZaCaaron Williams, McAlester—attended the first session of the Youth Leadership

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GEAR UP students attend College Matters Summer Camp

Fifty-three 10th and 11th-grade GEAR UP students from area partner schools recently attended Eastern Oklahoma State College’s GEAR UP College Matters Summer Camp. GEAR UP worked with FOCUS Training to design and deliver a four-day, three-night leadership camp. Students participated in various leadership activities focused on team building, improving communication skills, preparing and finding the right college, financial aid and scholarship search, and active community involvement. The overall goal of the activities was to establish

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Eastern Oklahoma State College GEAR UP Students attend S.T.E.M. Camp at EOSC

Twenty-eight Junior and Senior GEAR UP students from Area Public Schools recently participated in S.T.E.M. Camp at Eastern Oklahoma State College, showcasing careers and education.  Students from Antlers, Bokoshe, Canadian, Clayton, Coalgate, Hartshorne, Howe, Keota, LeFlore, McAlester, Panama, Porum, Poteau, Quinton, Rattan, Savanna, Spiro, Talihina, and Wilburton spent three days on the EOSC campus learning about different S.T.E.M. Careers and growing in their education as well. Many area organizations partnered with GEAR UP to make

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GEAR UP Students and Parents Travel Across Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Missouri for Extraordinary Tours

One hundred thirty-four students and guardians recently participated in a two-night three-day charter bus trip across Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Missouri. The trip was sponsored by EOSC GEAR UP (Eastern Oklahoma State College Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs), and allowed partner schools’ students and their parents or guardians to tour colleges and universities they would not typically visit, the Ancient Ozarks Natural History Museum, and a behind the scene career exploration at Silver

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Coalgate GEAR UP Students tour Eastern Oklahoma State College

Sixty GEAR UP sophomores and juniors from Coalgate High School recently traveled to Wilburton, OK, to tour the campus of Eastern Oklahoma State College (EOSC). Karen Darby, Director of Recruitment, and Hanna Truitt, Recruitment and Retention Specialist, greeted the students and gave a brief overview of college life. They encouraged students to consider a smaller college as the first step on their post-secondary educational journey. Following the introductions, Darby and Truitt guided students on a

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Quinton GEAR UP students tour Carl Albert State College

Quinton junior and sophomore GEAR UP students recently toured Carl Albert State College (CASC) in Poteau, Oklahoma. Students were greeted by Hunter Sisemore, the Lead Recruiter at CASC. The tour began in Hemphill Hall where the students visited the offices of Admissions, Financial Aid and Learning Resource Center. Students continued their tour by visiting several buildings on campus which included Gedosh Scholar Dorm, Health Science Center, Dr. Joe E. White Library, Ross and Artie Stivers

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Wilburton GEAR UP Students Tour Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology

Wilburton sophomore GEAR UP students recently toured Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology (OSUIT) in Okmulgee, OK. OSUIT is a recognized leader in applied technology education. Students were greeted at the Grady Clark Center by Recruiter Caitlin McCourt upon arrival. McCourt provided students with an overview of the academic programs offered, admission requirements, tuition cost and the history of OSUIT. Students then viewed a presentation video of Dr. Bill R. Path, President of OSUIT speaking

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Wister Sophomore GEAR UP students visit Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art

Wister sophomore GEAR UP students recently visited Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas. Students were greeted by Sarah Foster, School and Community Programs Coordinator upon arrival. Students were given a guided tour of the “This is US (United States),” art exhibit. Students viewed works of art and explored their interpretation of each piece of art through discussion. Students spent the remainder of their visit touring the art museum independently. Crystal Bridges gets

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Stringtown GEAR UP Students tour Seminole State College

Twenty-six GEAR UP sophomores and juniors from Stringtown High School recently traveled to Seminole, OK, to tour the campus of Seminole State College (SSC). Caitlin Brown, Recruitment Specialist, greeted the students and gave them a brief overview of the admissions process. Each incoming student is assigned to a financial aid specialist who helps make the transition to college easier. After the introduction, Brown guided students on a walking tour of the campus, including the Business

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Howe GEAR UP Students Tour Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology

Howe junior and sophomore GEAR UP students recently toured OSUIT (Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology) in Okmulgee. OSUIT is a recognized leader in applied technology education. Students were greeted at the Grady Clark Center by Abigail Rush, Student Success Facilitator upon arrival. Rush provided students with an overview of the academic programs offered, admission requirements, tuition costs, and the history of OSUIT. Students then viewed a presentation video of Dr. Bill R. Path, president

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Eufaula GEAR UP Students Tour the OKC Zoo and Botanical Garden

One hundred and twenty GEAR UP sophomore and junior students recently visited the OKC Zoo and Botanical Garden in Oklahoma City’s Adventure District in northeast Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The Zoo covers over 100 acres of beautiful gardens and animal exhibits. Students enjoyed exploring the indoor and outdoor animal exhibits, which included a variety of habitats, such as Sanctuary Asia, Oklahoma Trails, Cat Forest/Lion Overlook, Butterfly Garden, and the Noble Aquatic Center. Students observed animals in

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McAlester GEAR UP students tour Eastern Oklahoma State College

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,

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Hartshorne GEAR UP students tour the Science Museum Oklahoma

Fifty-two Hartshorne GEAR UP students recently visited the Science Museum Oklahoma in Oklahoma City. The two-story museum consists of a wide array of hands-on activities that allow students to have fun in an engaging way. Students roamed while learning about various scientific 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 lives

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Buffalo Valley GEAR UP students tour the University of Arkansas Fort Smith

Seventeen Buffalo Valley GEAR UP students recently toured the University of Arkansas Fort Smith. The day started with Admissions Advisor Maddie Hardwick greeting students in the Smith-Pendergraft Campus Center. Hardwick spoke with students about the process of admissions, financial aid, majors offered, and scholarship opportunities available to students. Following the presentation, students went on a tour of the campus led by Communications Liaison for Recruitment Hannah Warrington. Students toured the Smith-Pendergraft Campus Center, Gymnasium/Field House,

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Wister GEAR UP students visit Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art

Wister’s eleventh-grade GEAR UP students recently visited Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas. Students were greeted by Sarah Foster School and Community Programs Coordinator upon arrival. Students were given a guided tour of the “This is US (United States),” art exhibit. Students viewed works of art and explored their interpretation of each piece of art through discussion. Students spent the remainder of their visit touring the art museum independently. Crystal Bridges gets

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Crowder GEAR UP students toured OSUIT

Thirty-two Crowder GEAR UP students recently toured OSUIT (Oklahoma State University of Technology) in Okmulgee, Oklahoma. Students were greeted by OSUIT Student Success Facilitator Abigail Rush and current student Codi Carr at the Grady Clark Center. The day began with a presentation by Rush over OSUIT admission requirements, degree programs, and an overview of campus life. Students were then led on a walking tour of the campus. The first stop was the Culinary Arts department,

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