News Releases

Coalgate GEAR UP Students tour ECU

Forty-one GEAR UP students from Coalgate High School recently traveled to Ada, OK, to tour the campus of East Central University (ECU). Ashlee Heck, Director of Admissions & Recruitment, greeted the students and gave a brief overview of the upcoming day. Following the introduction, students participated in the Ada Area-Wide College Fair held in ECU’s Chickasaw Business & Conference Center. During the fair, GEAR UP seniors had the opportunity to visit booths of over 40

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2023 NCCEP/GEAR UP Annual Conference in San Francisco, CA

Twenty-three students, chaperones, and GEAR UP team members recently attended the 2023 NCCEP/GEAR UP Annual Conference in San Francisco, CA. The group spent four days touring UC Santa Cruz, UC Berkeley, and the University of San Francisco, as well as historical sites in and around San Francisco, CA. As the conference activities began, the six students—Madilyn Lovell, Spiro; Dakota Logan, Rattan; Rodrigo Sanchez, Howe; Rene Hurtado, McAlester; Deiondra Howard, Coalgate; and Weldon Harrison, Canadian—attended the

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GEAR UP Students Travel to Puerto Rico for Global Leadership Summit

Eighteen GEAR UP graduates participated in a 4-night, 5-day Global Leadership Summit in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Students encountered a wide range of experiences, from learning about the history and culture of Puerto Rico to gaining leadership skills during the Global Leadership Summit. The trip began with students arriving in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and being greeted by Zion Leadership Group. They traveled to the T-Mobile District, where they had dinner and experienced music and

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Eastern Oklahoma State College GEAR UP Students attend S.T.E.A.M. Camp in OKC

Thirty-three GEAR UP students from Area Public Schools recently participated in S.T.E.A.M. Camp around the Oklahoma City area, showcasing careers and education.  From area partner schools spent four days and three nights learning about different S.T.E.A.M. Careers and growing in their education. Many area organizations partnered with GEAR UP to make this week a success. Wheeler Bio, FAA Museum and CAMI, DNA Solutions, ARL Bio Pharma, The Kupiec Group, Dodgers Stadium, River Sports, Factory Obscura,

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GEAR UP students attend Solutions for College and Beyond Summer Camp

Thirty-nine 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 a four-day, three-night leadership camp. Students participated in various leadership activities focused on team building, time management and prioritization, networking, FOCUS on life, community involvement, and working toward the future. The overall goal of the activities was to establish strong, impactful leaders. Each year, GEAR

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GEAR UP Welcomes Lisa Goddard as Professional Development Coordinator

Eastern Oklahoma State College GEAR UP is pleased to announce that Lisa Goddard has joined the GEAR UP Team and will serve as our new Professional Development Coordinator. We are excited to have her with us to provide professional development to the educators in our Partner Schools. In addition, we look continue the excellent tradition with our partner Texas Instruments in providing equipment, training, and coaching, and support to our local STEM educators. Welcome to

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Wister GEAR UP students tour Oklahoma State University

Wister 11th and 12th-grade GEAR UP students recently toured Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, OK.  Students were greeted by Campus Visits and Event Coordinator Mariah Russell upon arrival at the Student Union.  The tour began in the Case Studies event room with a welcome video that detailed the campus environment, degrees, scholarships, and internships available to students. After a short Q&A, Senior Ambassador Caitlin Brooks led students on a walking tour of several buildings, including

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Stringtown GEAR UP Students visit the Gathering Place

Twenty-four GEAR UP students from Stringtown High School recently traveled to Tulsa, OK, to tour the Gathering Place. Guest Service Lead Jai’Monique Ferguson greeted the students and briefly discussed the park and its mission. The tour began in Williams Lodge, where students learned the history and construction of the park, which opened in 2018. The George Kaiser Family Foundation saw the need for Tulsans to have a welcoming, natural space where the community could explore

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Wilburton GEAR UP Seniors visit the Science Museum Oklahoma

Wilburton senior GEAR UP students recently visited the Science Museum Oklahoma in Oklahoma City. Students engaged in hands-on learning experiences as they interacted with numerous science exhibits. Students learned about electricity, motion, gravity, geology, and space. The exhibits students visited included the Navy Gallery, Mirror Maze, Eye on the Sky, EneryQuest, Elemental Worlds, and Destination Space. After exploring the museum, students could view a showing in the planetarium or watch a Science Live experiment. The

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Wilburton Junior GEAR UP Students visit Spiro Mounds Archaeological Center

Wilburton Junior GEAR UP students recently visited Spiro Mounds Archaeological Center in Spiro, OK. Upon arrival, students were given an introductory program about the Mississippian people by Center Director Anna Vincent.  Afterward, students broke up into groups and walked the nearly two miles of interpreted trails where they saw the Craig Mound, which was the burial mound of the Spiro people.  They also saw a reconstructed house showing how the early people used river cane,

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Quinton GEAR UP students visit the Gathering Place

Quinton Junior and Senior GEAR UP students recently visited the Gathering Place in Tulsa, OK. The George Kaiser Family Foundation is where the story began for this dynamic and interactive environment. Earning the title of a top attraction in the nation, The Gathering Place is located along the Arkansas River and is known as Tulsa’s Riverfront Park. GEAR UP students learned about the Landscapes and Cityscapes in the classroom before attending the trip. Once at

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Savanna GEAR UP Students tour Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum

Twenty-five GEAR UP students from Savanna High School recently traveled to Dallas, TX, to tour the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum. Museum Experience Lead Ellie Keffler greeted the students and briefly explained the museum’s 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. Guides discussed Hitler’s worldview, the Nazi rise to

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Rattan GEAR UP students visited the Aviation Sciences Institute

Recently Rattan 12th grade students visited the Aviation Sciences Institute at Southeastern Oklahoma State University. Students met with current students Kenley Costin, Tatiana Beach, Kyle Lions, Alex Craycraft- Ambassadors in Professional Pilot Program, and Cassie Woodward, Flight Administrator at the school. They discussed with the students the training process and becoming a pilot. The students and instructors spoke about the cost of training and certifications needed for graduation and getting a job after graduation. They

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Pittsburg GEAR UP Students visit the Gathering Place

Ten GEAR UP students from Pittsburg High School recently traveled to Tulsa, OK, to tour the Gathering Place. Park docent Bob Rayno greeted the students and briefly explained the park and its mission. The tour began in Williams Lodge, where students learned the history and construction of the park, which opened in 2018. The George Kaiser Family Foundation saw the need for Tulsans to have a welcoming, natural space where the community could explore and

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LeFlore GEAR UP Students visit Carl Albert State College & LeFlore County Museum

LeFlore senior and junior GEAR UP students recently toured Carl Albert State College (CASC) in Poteau, Oklahoma. Hunter Sisemore, Lead Recruiter at CASC, greeted the students. The tour began in Hemphill Hall, where the students visited the offices of Admissions, Financial Aid, and the Learning Resource Center. Students also visited several campus buildings, including the Gedosh Scholar Dorm, Health Science Center, Dr. Joe E. White Library, Ross and Artie Stivers Center, and Costner-Balentine Student Center,

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Howe GEAR UP Students Tour Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum

Howe Senior GEAR UP students recently took an educational trip to the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum in Dallas, TX. Group Tour Manager Adilene Hernandez greeted the students upon arrival at the Museum and informed them that during the tour, they would be learning about World War II and the Holocaust.  Museum Docent Educator Joe Roffman guided students through the Museum and discussed meaningful exhibits, photographs, and artifacts depicting the Holocaust and Jewish life

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Howe GEAR UP Students Tour the Oklahoma Aquarium

Junior GEAR UP students recently visited the Oklahoma Aquarium in Jenks, OK. GEAR UP students started the day with Education Specialist Hallie Moss. Moss gave the students an overview of how important it is to care for the environment because it matters to everything in the ocean. Students were then given a map of the aquarium and were led to different areas to explore sea life. The first stop for students was the Amazing Invertebrates

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