News Releases

Atoka GEAR UP Students tour Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum

Thirty-six GEAR UP students from Atoka High School recently traveled to Dallas, TX, to tour the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum. Museum docent Jeff Weiss greeted the students and gave a brief overview of the museum and its mission. The tour began in the Holocaust/Shoah Wing, where students learned the history of the Jewish people and their experiences that led to the murder of six million Jews during the Holocaust. Weiss discussed Hitler’s worldview,

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Atoka GEAR UP Juniors tour Choctaw Cultural Center

Forty-four GEAR UP Juniors from Atoka High School recently traveled to Durant, OK, to tour the newly constructed Choctaw Cultural Center.  The day began with Sam Harley, Choctaw Cultural Educator, greeting the students and leading them to the Kowi Chito Theater. They viewed films depicting Choctaw artistry such as basket weaving and weapon making. After the introduction, Cultural Educator Sarah De Herrera and Public Programmer Eli Williams led students on a guided tour of the

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Atoka GEAR UP Students Tour Murray State College

Thirty-six GEAR UP Sophomores from Atoka High School recently traveled to Tishomingo, OK, to tour the campus of MSC (Murray State College). The day began with Outreach and Recruitment Coordinator Katie Carroll greeting the students and giving a brief overview of college life, encouraging students to consider a small campus for their post-secondary education. After the introduction, Carroll and her team guided students on a walking tour of the campus, including the dormitories, dining hall,

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Atoka GEAR UP student tour OSUIT

Fifty-two junior EOSC (Eastern Oklahoma State College) GEAR UP students from Atoka High School recently traveled to Okmulgee to the campus of OSUIT (Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology), where they participated in Career Encounters, a one-day event demonstrating the university’s hands-on technical and applied science programs. Upon arrival, students received a schedule and an overview of the day’s activities. They were allowed to choose from over fifty presentations and demonstrations from all four academic

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Atoka GEAR UP Students Tour Historic Downtown Atoka, Oklahoma

Sixty-two Atoka freshman and sophomore EOSC (Eastern Oklahoma State College) GEAR UP students recently participated in an educational field trip to historic downtown Atoka, Okla. GEAR UP Education Coordinator Denise Lovell began the tour with an overview of the town’s history and its role in Oklahoma history. Students took a walking tour of Atoka’s downtown area where they learned about the history and architecture of the current buildings. Several downtown structures are dated before statehood

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Eastern Oklahoma State College GEAR UP sponsors virtual Chad Cargill ACT Test Prep Workshop for GEAR UP sophomores

550 area high school sophomore GEAR UP students from 30 schools learned how to better prepare for the ACT as they attended a virtual, three-hour workshop presented by Chad Cargill, Founder and President of Cargill Consulting, Inc. The workshop was sponsored by Eastern Oklahoma State College’s GEAR UP—Ignite Belief grant program. During high school, Cargill knew he needed to earn scholarships in order to attend Oklahoma State University. During his freshman year in high school,

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Eastern Oklahoma State College GEAR UP Partner Schools Receive Technology During COVID-19 Pandemic

Eastern Oklahoma State College GEAR UP recently purchased a variety of technology items for area GEAR UP schools to assist with the schools’ needs for virtual learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Each GEAR UP school indicated its immediate need to help conduct virtual education for students. GEAR UP spent over $194,650 on laptops, headsets and Chromebooks. The technology was distributed to cohort schools based on the requested need. Eastern received a $17 million federal

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Atoka GEAR UP Students Participated in a Virtual Tour of Eastern Oklahoma State College

Seventy-four freshman and sophomore EOSC (Eastern Oklahoma State College) GEAR UP students from Atoka Public Schools recently participated in a virtual college tour day. GEAR UP Education Coordinator, Denise Lovell, began the tour by discussing how to choose a college based on location, size, cost, academic programs, and scholarships. Next, Karen Darby, Admissions Recruiter, for EOSC met with students on the Atoka campus and gave them an overview of Eastern and the many opportunities the college

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Atoka GEAR UP students tour the Durant State Fish Hatchery

Seventy-seven GEAR UP students from McCall Middle School in Atoka recently visited the Durant State Fish Hatchery located near Durant. The seventh and eighth grade students toured portions of the 350-acre facility while learning the role of the largest hatchery in the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife. Students began the day exploring the catfish barn. Rebecca Fillmore, along with other hatchery technicians, described the process for researching and growing the millions of bass that are used

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McCall Middle School GEAR UP students tour East Central University

Ninety-eight GEAR UP students from McCall Middle School in Atoka recently traveled to Ada to tour East Central University (ECU). The seventh and eighth grade students and their teachers began the day in the Estep Room inside the Bill S. Cole University Center. After a brief introduction, Admissions Recruiter Alyson Chapman provided a brief overview of ECU and campus life. Chapman encouraged the students to begin planning now for college admission by building a portfolio,

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Atoka GEAR UP students tour Oklahoma City Zoo

Ninety-three GEAR UP students from Atoka Public Schools recently toured the Oklahoma City Zoo located in Oklahoma City’s Adventure District. Students enjoyed exploring the zoo which is home to more than 1,900 animals. The exhibits include an Asian themed section that houses the elephant habitat with outdoor yards, pools, waterfalls and a barn which can be viewed from a raised boardwalk. The students were also intrigued by the Cat Forest/Lion overlook containing species of big

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