Eastern’s GEAR UP Project Director Visits with Oklahoma Congressmen

Linda Morgan, Project Director for Eastern’s $12.6 million GEAR UP grant, spent time visiting the offices of several Oklahoma Congressmen. Morgan was invited by Pennsylvania Representative Chaka Fattah to network with members of Congress during the 2014 NCCEP/GEAR UP Annual Conference held recently in Washington, DC. Fattah is the author of the legislation which authorized the GEAR UP grant program 15 years ago.

The GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) is a federal grant program administered by the US Department of Education. GEAR UP focuses heavily on the Early Intervention and College Awareness Program. GEAR UP was also designed to aid students in elementary and high school to be aware of the benefits of higher education, and to reach the educational level necessary to attend an institute of higher education.

“Eastern is beginning its fourth year of its second GEAR UP grant,” explained Morgan. “Eastern’s GEAR UP team works with 27 partner schools to increase academic performance and preparation for postsecondary education, increase the rate of high school graduation and participation in postsecondary education by providing career and college advisement, and increase students’ and their families’ knowledge of postsecondary education options, preparation and financing.”

Services provided include tutoring, mentoring, career planning and advisement for students and parents, summer camps, college financial aid workshops, ACT test preparation, on–going professional development for teachers, financial literacy training, field trips, and a 21st Century Scholar Certificate Awards event.

“We began with a cohort of students in the 6th and 7th grades,” explained Morgan. “Each student in the cohort grades is eligible if his or her parents complete authorization forms. It’s all free! In our current grant, we will follow the cohort for seven years. In 2014–2015, our cohort will be in 9th and 10th grades.”

“We are doing everything we can to help parents and students make informed decisions regarding college access,” said Morgan. “Each and every child deserves the opportunity to expand and realize his or her potential. GEAR UP provides additional resources to help them see and understand their possibilities and realize their potential.”

Services are also provided to teachers and parents including College Savings Plan Night Events and newsletters for parents.

Morgan shared activities, statistics, and success stories with several members of Oklahoma’s Congressional delegation and their staff during the meetings. Morgan met with Oklahoma’s 2nd District Representative Markwayne Mullin; 3rd District Representative Frank Lucas and Legislative Assistant Brad Morris; Mary Anne Morgan, Legislative Correspondent and Stratton Edwards, Legislative Counsel to 4th District Representative Tom Cole; 5th District Representative James Lankford; and Senator James Inhofe and Chief of Staff Ryan Jackson, Legislative Correspondent Dominique McKay and Legislative Assistant Jennifer Bowman.

GEAR UP Project Director Linda Morgan visits with Oklahoma’s 2nd District Representative Markwayne Mullin about Eastern Oklahoma State College’s GEAR UP program during the 2014 NCCEP/GEAR UP Annual Conference in Washington, DC.

Oklahoma’s 2nd District Representative Markwayne Mullin met with Eastern Oklahoma State College’s GEAR UP grant Project Director Linda Morgan during the 2014 NCCEP/GEAR UP Annual Conference in Washington, DC.

Oklahoma’s 3rd District Representative Frank Lucas and Eastern Oklahoma State College’s GEAR UP grant Project Director Linda Morgan met during the 2014 NCCEP/GEAR UP Annual Conference in Washington, DC.

GEAR UP Project Director Linda Morgan visits with Brad Morris, Legislative Assistant to Oklahoma’s 3nd District Representative Frank Lucas about Eastern Oklahoma State College’s GEAR UP program during the 2014 NCCEP/GEAR UP Annual Conference in Washington, DC.