News Releases

Atoka GEAR UP students tour the Durant State Fish Hatchery

Seventy-seven GEAR UP students from McCall Middle School in Atoka recently visited the Durant State Fish Hatchery located near Durant. The seventh and eighth grade students toured portions of the 350-acre facility while learning the role of the largest hatchery in the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife. Students began the day exploring the catfish barn. Rebecca Fillmore, along with other hatchery technicians, described the process for researching and growing the millions of bass that are used

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Hartshorne seventh grade GEAR UP students tour Tulsa Air and Space Museum & Planetarium

Forty-five Hartshorne seventh grade GEAR UP recently toured the Tulsa Air and Space Museum & Planetarium. Membership Coordinator Madeline Butler began by dividing the students into two groups in an effort to ensure students a better learning environment. Planetarium Manager Bryan Kyle began his portion of the tour in the James E. Bertelsmeyer Planetarium. Students watched a movie, “Stars,” on a full-dome screen. Kyle discussed the night sky and educated students on the difference between

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Cameron GEAR UP students tour The Tulsa Air and Space Museum & Planetarium

Twenty-six Cameron GEAR UP students recently traveled to The Tulsa Air and Space Museum & Planetarium. Upon arrival, students were greeted by volunteer and Vietnam Veteran Doug Hill. The first stop was a hot air balloon display. Originally called smoke balloons, Hill explained that the balloons were once made of canvas and sealed with beeswax to seal the pores of the fabric. The balloon was inflated from heat of a nearby fire which was covered

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Buffalo Valley students tour Oklahoma Baptist University and the Oklahoma City Zoo

Students from Buffalo Valley recently toured Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee. Students arrived at the Bailey Business Center and were greeted by tour guide Lily Huff, a freshman Communications major with a double minor in English and French. Huff crisscrossed campus taking students to many buildings including Montgomery Hall where Bible classes are held; “The Rock,” the campus Fitness Center; the cafeteria which houses both a Chick-fil-A and a Starbucks; The Mabee Learning Center where

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Coalgate GEAR UP students tour East Central University

Eighty-one GEAR UP students from Coalgate recently traveled to Ada to tour the campus of ECU (East Central University). The seventh and eighth grade students were greeted by Admissions Recruiter Alyson Chapman inside the Bill S. Cole University Center. Chapman, a Coalgate alumnus, gave a brief overview of collegiate life at ECU and the benefits of attending a smaller university located close to home. She stated that 50 percent of ECU’s students graduate debt free

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Keota GEAR UP eighth grade students visit the Tulsa Zoo

Twenty Keota eighth grade GEAR UP students recently traveled to the Tulsa Zoo. Students visited the different exhibits, including The Lost Kingdom, African Plains, Asia, Children’s Zoo, Chimpanzee Connection, Mary K. Chapman Rhino Reserve, Helmerich Sea Lion Cove, and The Rainforest. The Zoo is home to a variety of animals, including a red panda, snow leopard, aldabra tortoises, African Painted dogs, giraffes, meerkats, lions, and primates. Students learned about the Aldabra tortoises, the second-largest species

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Fanshawe GEAR UP students tour the University of Arkansas

Fanshawe seventh and eighth grade GEAR UP students recently traveled to Fayetteville to tour the University of Arkansas. The presentation began in Silas H. Hunt Hall with a video about the U of A. The admissions office is housed in this building, and students were given information about the writing center, student organizations, degree programs, scholarships, study abroad opportunities, and the admission process. The tour began in the Arkansas Student Union. The Union contains many

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Quinton GEAR UP students tour at Eastern Oklahoma State College

Quinton seventh and eighth grade GEAR UP students recently traveled to Wilburton to tour Eastern Oklahoma State College. Eastern Oklahoma State College is a public community college, offering associate degree and certification programs. The students visited the Nursing Department, radio station, Science Department, and the Bill H. Hill Library. Recruiter Karen Darby led the tour and spoke to the students about the importance of college and the opportunities that Eastern can give them because it

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Indianola seventh and eighth grade GEAR UP students tour East Central University

Twenty-eight Indianola seventh and eighth grade GEAR UP students recently toured ECU (East Central University) in Ada. Students began the day by dividing into three groups, each being guided by an ECU Recruiter, Alyson Chapman, Claudio Harvey, or Kelsey Miller. Students took a walking tour of the campus, learning about many aspects of campus life. “Studies show your grades are better and you stay in school to complete your degree program when you’re active in

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Haileyville seventh and eighth grade GEAR UP students tour Northeastern State University

Thirty-six Haileyville seventh and eighth grade GEAR UP students recently toured NSU (Northeastern State University) in Tahlequah. Students began the day at the W. Roger Webb Educational Technology Center where they were greeted by NSU Campus Visit Program Graduate Assistant Gabby Clayton and NSU Representatives Kaylee Switzer and Cash Bridges. Bridges presented students with an overview of NSU, including information about admissions and scholarships, campus life activities, and degree programs. After the presentation, students began

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Porum seventh graders tour Rogers State University and Will Rogers Memorial Museum

Thirty-eight Porum GEAR UP students recently visited RSU (Rogers State University) and the Will Rogers Memorial Museum in Claremore. Students began the morning at Rogers State University. Campus Visits & Events Coordinator Addison Murray welcomed students to RSU. University Recruiters Jake Swincegood and Rachel Smith gave students a quick overview of RSU admissions, financial aid availability, student organizations and program options. Students were given souvenir bags with RSU info and goodies. After the presentation, students

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Crowder seventh and eighth graders tour Oral Roberts University in Tulsa

Forty-six seventh and eighth grade Crowder GEAR UP students recently toured ORU (Oral Roberts University) in Tulsa. Student Ambassadors Rosa Beitia (a Medical Molecular Biology senior from San Antonio, TX) and Marc Swanner (a Ministry and Leadership/Business Management freshman from Greenville, NC) welcomed Crowder students to the Global Learning Center before starting the tour. Student Ambassadors gave visitors an overview of the campus and life as a student at ORU. While college students each choose

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Porum eighth graders tour Rogers State University and Will Rogers Memorial Museum

Forty-one Porum GEAR UP students recently visited RSU (Rogers State University) and the Will Rogers Memorial Museum in Claremore. Students began the morning at Rogers State University inside Markum Hall where the Admission office is located. Campus Visits & Events Coordinator Addison Murray welcomed students to RSU. She began her welcome with a short presentation titled “College Prep,” an overview of things to know that can help students plan and prepare for after high school.

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LeFlore GEAR UP students visit the Janet Huckabee Arkansas River Valley Nature Center

LeFlore seventh and eighth grade GEAR UP students recently visited the Janet Huckabee Arkansas River Nature Center located in Fort Smith, Arkansas. The Janet Huckabee Arkansas River Valley Nature Center sits on 170 acres of land in Fort Smith that were previously part of Fort Chaffee. Exhibits play a large part in the nature center. In addition to the interactive displays and exhibits, the center houses a classroom for educational programs such as the Hunter’s

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Poteau seventh grade girls tour the Oklahoma Aquarium

Sixty-nine Poteau GEAR UP seventh grade students recently traveled to Jenks to visit the Oklahoma Aquarium. The aquarium allowed students to self-explore the nine exhibits it houses, including the most recent exhibit, the Polynesian Reef. There are several touch tanks that allow students a hands-on experience with aquatic creatures. The Polynesian Reef exhibit is home to many species of fish and coral. Yellowtail coris can be found in this exhibit. In order to maximize their

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Poteau seventh grade boys visit the Oklahoma Aquarium in Jenks

Forty-four seventh grade Poteau GEAR UP students recently travel to the Oklahoma Aquarium. The aquarium is home to many species of fish, sharks, and other sea life as well as wildlife native to Oklahoma. Students explored exhibits as well as touched aquatic animals up close and personal. The aquarium houses many touch tanks. Students were able to feel shrimp, starfish, muscles, sharks, and stingrays within these tanks. One exhibit, which held larger stingrays than the

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Savanna GEAR UP students tour the SKELETONS: Museum of Osteology

Thirty-two GEAR UP students from Savanna recently traveled to Oklahoma City to tour the SKELETONS: Museum of Osteology. The museum is a unique, one of a kind educational experience that focuses on the form and function of the skeletal system with hundreds of skulls and skeletons on display from around the world. The tour began with an introduction to osteology given by Museum Manager Kathryne Thorne. She explained the difference between extant which is still

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Krebs seventh grade GEAR UP students tour Southeastern Oklahoma State University

Thirty-two Krebs Public School seventh grade GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) students recently traveled to Durant to tour SOSU (Southeastern Oklahoma State University). High School Recruiter Kourtney Kaufman and Transfer Recruiter Charles Jackson began the tour at Glen D. Johnson Student Union where students were divided into two groups. Kaufman and Jackson educated students about services offered at the Native American Institute located in the Center for Student Success. Students

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Panola GEAR UP students tour Connors State College

The Panola seventh and eighth grade GEAR UP students recently toured CSC (Connors State College) in Warner. The tour began in the Fine Arts Auditorium. CSC Director of Recruitment Logan Nero provided Panola students with an introduction to Connors State College and discussed the degree programs offered, financial aid information, and scholarship assistance that is available. Nore discussed the importance of the ACT and challenged them to begin thinking about their future. Students were led

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Howe GEAR UP students tour Tulsa Community College and Tulsa Tech Center

Howe seventh and eighth-grade GEAR UP students recently traveled to Tulsa to tour the southeast campus of TCC (Tulsa Community College). Students were greeted by Admissions Counselor William Baldwin and Student Recruiter Lucia McFarland. They talked to the students about TCC and the admission process. They discussed how there are over 100 majors for students to choose from at TCC. The tour started in Building 8 that houses programs for science, mathematics, health science, and

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