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 walking tour of the campus, including the admissions office, Mountaineer Radio, Johnson Hall dormitory, and the nursing department. Alton Jones, EOSC Police Chief and Adjunct

Seventy-two Coalgate ninth and 10th grade GEAR UP students recently toured the Atoka Museum and Civil War Cemetery. Students were greeted by Museum Director Cindy Wallis who guided students through the museum. Students viewed exhibits honoring Atoka county notorieties, such as singer Reba McEntire and bull rider Lane Frost. Wallis also shared information concerning early Oklahoma history, which included lifestyles, culture and customs of the early settlers. Students observed exhibits from the mid-1900s, and learned about rotary phones, switchboards, and other early appliances. Wallis discussed several local natural disasters and how those affected the area’s commerce and reconstruction. After touring

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 GEAR UP grant in 2017, and will serve more than 3,000 students in 39 area schools for seven years.