School is back in session across Southeast Oklahoma, and that means that EOSC GEAR UP is busy kicking off another year with the teachers and students of our partner schools. This year’s cohort is in the 10th and 11th grade, and with students entering high school, college is looming closer and closer on the horizon! We have a lot of great things planned for the year, so keep an eye here for ways to get involved!
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 tour began at EOSC in Wilburton. Participants toured the campus and learned about programs and opportunities their local community college has to offer. EOSC is
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 School STEM teacher Bret Lalli, and Texas Instruments instructor and Wilburton High School math teacher Lisa Goddard presented hands-on learning sessions to participants. Session topics
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 leaders. Each year, GEAR UP summer camp participants complete a community service project. This year, students created care packages for the McAlester Regional Medical Center
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. The Oklahoma Aquarium is divided into several areas that feature aquatic life from around the world as well as Oklahoma. The most popular parts of
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 diversity among species. Students learned of several types of data that needs to be recorded to help zookeepers make healthy breeding decisions among animals, such
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 a popular destination for kids of all ages. The variety of interactive displays make learning fun for all science explorers both young and old. The
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 dissection. Students were able to expose and examine the parts of the eye, including the lens, pupil, cornea, retina and optic nerve. After the guided
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 City Zoo home. The field trip was sponsored by Eastern Oklahoma State College GEAR UP. Eastern received a $17 million federal GEAR UP grant in
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 into a real hot air balloon basket and see if they have what it takes to pilot a balloon. GEAR UP students concluded the visit
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 about how the different animals came to the rescue and their natural habitats. Students ended the trip with lunch at Grateful Head Pizza Oven and
