News Releases

Keota GEAR UP students toured the University of Oklahoma

Keota tenth and eleventh-grade GEAR UP students recently toured the OU (University of Oklahoma) campus in Norman, Okla. The tour began with a greeting from Mr. Alejandro at the Visitor Center. He showed a slideshow of the campus and spoke about how to prepare for college, the different organizations on campus, clubs open to students, and degrees offered at OU. OU has 20,000+ undergraduate programs available to students. Students were given the opportunity to ask

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Porum GEAR UP Students Tour Northeastern State University

Fifty Porum High School tenth and eleventh-grade GEAR UP students recently toured NSU (Northeastern State University) in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. Students began the trip with a greeting from NSU’s Tour Program Graduate Assistant Lorance Washington, presentation speaker Braydin Ballard, and tour guides Ashley Onyemechi, Savanna Zachary, and Patrick Tillman. The morning began with a presentation by current NSU student Braydin Ballard. Ballard presented students with an overview of NSU, highlighting information on how to become an

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Indianola GEAR UP Students Tour OSU-IT

Twenty-seven Indianola tenth and eleven-grade GEAR UP students recently toured OSU-IT in Okmulgee, Okla. The tour began in the Grady Clack center, where the Assistant Director of Prospective Students, Levi Wright, greeted the students. Wright showed a presentation covering OSU-IT admission requirements, tuition costs, dorm life, and programs offered on campus. Students took a walking tour of the campus where they visited the Learning Resource Center, viewed a dorm room, Culinary Arts Program, and the

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GEAR UP Teachers attend ACT Prep Workshop Presented by Princeton Review

  Nineteen GEAR UP teachers from partner schools recently attended a two-day ACT Prep workshop, and eleven attended the one-day refresher course presented by Princeton Review representative Henry Price. The workshops help to boost knowledge of test prep and the college admission process. During the workshops, participants were given techniques and tools to create an environment where students understand that college can be a part of their future. Each teacher who completed the workshop received

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GEAR UP students celebrate GEAR UP Week with Arel Moodie

GEAR UP students celebrate GEAR UP Week with Arel Moodie In celebration of National GEAR UP Week, national best-selling author and motivational speaker Arel Moodie recently spoke to over 1500 GEAR UP students during a virtual workshop.   Moodie discussed with the sophomores and juniors from EOSC’s GEAR UP partner schools about being the very best they can be. He challenged each student to strive for greatness and to never give up on their dreams. The

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GEAR UP Students and Guardians Travel Across Oklahoma to Tour Colleges and Universities

Seventy students, parents and guardians recently participated in a charter bus trip across Oklahoma known as GEAR UP Tour of Oklahoma. 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 Oklahoma City Underground Tunnels, and the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum. The

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Eastern Oklahoma State College GEAR UP Offers First STEM Camp

Thirty-one Eastern Oklahoma State College GEAR UP students from area partner schools attended EOSC GEAR UP’s first STEM Camp in Wilburton, Okla. STEM is an acronym for science, technology, engineering and mathematics. EOSC Dean of Science & Mathematics and Biology Department Chair Dr. Andrea Green, EOSC Chemistry Department Chair Dr. Krishna Bastola, EOSC Biology Instructor Dr. Julie Collins, EOSC Astronomy, Physics and Physical Science Department Chair Dr. Michael Nealon, Texas Instruments instructor and McAlester High

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Ninth and 10th grade GEAR UP students attend Skills Summit Summer Camp

One hundred fifteen ninth and 10th grade GEAR UP students from area partner schools recently attended Eastern Oklahoma State College’s GEAR UP Skills Summit Summer Camp. GEAR UP worked with FOCUS Training to design and deliver three, three-day, two-night leadership camps. Students participated in various leadership activities focused on creating positive self images, improving communication skills, team and relationship building, and active community involvement. The overall goal of the activities was to establish strong, impactful

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Antlers 10th Grade GEAR UP Students Visit the Oklahoma Aquarium

Antlers 10th grade GEAR UP students recently visited the Oklahoma Aquarium in Jenks. Students began their visit with a behind the scenes tour led by Oklahoma Aquarium Education Specialist Hallie Moss.  Students saw the shark tank from the top of the tank, water filtration room, and the food preparation room. Moss pointed out different highlights of the aquarium in a walk-thru of the larger exhibits, including the Sea Turtle Exhibit and the Coral Reef Exhibit.

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Cameron GEAR UP Students Participated in a Virtual Tour of the Tulsa Zoo

Twenty ninth and 10th grade Cameron GEAR UP students recently participated in a virtual “Zoo 2 U” program with the Tulsa Zoo. The program was conducted by Tulsa Zoo Education Specialists Sarah Varnell and Tricia Hindley. Varnell led students through the program “The Zoo Dating Game”. This program was created to educate students on the importance of healthy animal populations and conservation within zoos, and the use of the Species Survival Plan to ensure genetic

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Clayton GEAR UP Students Visit Oklahoma Science Museum

Clayton 10th grade GEAR UP students recently visited the Oklahoma Science Museum in Oklahoma City. Students engaged in hands-on learning projects with interactive science pieces found throughout the kid-friendly museum. Students learned about gravity, motion, electricity, color and geology just to name a few of the many science concepts offered at the museum. After exploring the museum, students attended a showing of Stars in the planetarium. Originally founded in 1958, the Oklahoma Science Museum is

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Howe GEAR UP Students Participate in Mid-America Science Museum Workshop

Sixty-seven Howe freshman and sophomore GEAR UP students recently participated in Mid-America Science Museum’s Outreach Workshop. The Outreach Team traveled from Hot Springs, Ark. to Howe Public Schools to host the workshop. The museum offers a range of dynamic shows and workshops for schools and community venues. Students were met by museum Educators Madeline Morris and Hayley Chronister who discussed the components and functions of a cow eye before leading the students through a guided

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Moyers GEAR UP Students Visit the Oklahoma City Zoo

Moyers ninth and 10th grade GEAR UP students recently visited the Oklahoma City Zoo. Students spent the afternoon exploring the indoor and outdoor animal exhibits, which included a variety of habitats, such as Sanctuary Asia—home to Asian elephants, the Great EscApe—a showcase of apes around the world, the Noble Aquatic Center, and Island Life—where the Galapagos tortoises reside. Students had the opportunity to ride camels and feed some of the animals that call the Oklahoma

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Quinton GEAR UP Students Visit the Tulsa Air and Space Museum & Planetarium

Forty-five Quinton freshman and sophomore GEAR UP students recently visited the Tulsa Air and Space Museum (TASM) in Tulsa, Okla. Students began the morning by exploring the museum with more than 100 years of Tulsa’s rich aerospace history. Students explored aircraft displays, such as the Spartin C-2, built in Tulsa during the 1930s, the Rockwell Ranger 2000, and other locally-built planes. TASM offers interactive exhibits, including the Hot Air Balloon Simulator, where students can step

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Rattan ninth and 10th Grade GEAR UP Students Tour Hochatown Animal Rescue Center and Petting Zoo

Rattan ninth and 10th grade GEAR UP students recently visited the Hochatown Animal Rescue Center and Petting Zoo. Students were led through buildings with stops that included interaction with the animals. Workers spoke about the conservation efforts to save animals abandoned by people or their mothers. Students had the opportunity to hold and pet several animals, such as Ball pythons, deer, foxes, opossums, chickens, horses, goats, baby alligators, and donkeys. Staff answered the students’ questions

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Wilburton GEAR UP students tour the Five Civilized Tribe Museum

Seventy-one Wilburton High School GEAR UP students recently toured the Five Civilized Tribes Museum in Muskogee, Okla. The Five Civilized Tribes Museum is dedicated to preserving the art, history and culture of the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Muscogee (Creek) and Seminole tribes. Museum Director Sean Barney educated students about Native American culture and history throughout the tour. GEAR UP students learned that the Five Civilized Tribes Museum building was built in 1875, and it was the

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GEAR UP Students Travel Across Oklahoma for Extraordinary Tours

Seventy-five students, parents and guardians recently participated in a charter bus trip across Oklahoma known as GEAR UP Tour of Oklahoma. 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 Oklahoma Aviation Flight School, and the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum. Partner

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Savanna GEAR UP Students Attend a Motivational Speaking Event

Sixty-five Savanna freshman and sophomore GEAR UP students recently attended a motivational presentation in Stringtown, Ok. The event was sponsored by Stringtown Public Schools. Stringtown Superintendent Tony Potts and other faculty members welcomed the Savanna students and encouraged them to listen and participate in the meeting. Students also were introduced to Shelomo Solson, a youth motivational speaker, author, and founder of Teenage Impact. His mission is to inspire teens to overcome adversity so they can

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LeFlore GEAR UP Students Participate in Mid-America Science Museum Workshop

Twenty-seven LeFlore freshman and sophomore Eastern Oklahoma State College GEAR UP students recently participated in Mid-America Science Museum’s outreach workshop. Located in Hot Springs, Ark., Mid-America Science Museum’s mission is to stimulate interest in science, promote public understanding of the sciences, and encourage life-long science education through interactive exhibits and programs. Mid-America Educator Madeline McClain traveled to LeFlore Public School to host a cow eye dissection workshop. McClain discussed how the comprehensive, hands-on-experience of a

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McCurtain GEAR UP Students Toured the Oklahoma Aquarium

McCurtain ninth and 10th grade Eastern Oklahoma State College GEAR UP students recently participated in a guided tour of the Oklahoma Aquarium in Jenks, Okla. During the tour, the guide took the students behind the scenes of the world’s largest bull shark exhibit and showed them where the food is prepared for all aquarium exhibits. The guide also stopped by Sea Turtle Island and Polynesian Reef where she gave students facts about the two exhibits.

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