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News Releases

Puterbaugh 7th grade boys tour Bacone College and The Five Civilized Tribes Museum

January 10, 2019

Thirty-four 7th grade GEAR UP boys from Puterbaugh recently traveled to Muskogee to tour Bacone College and The Five Civilized Tribes Museum. The tour began at Bacone College in the Ginny Palmer Center where students met with Kaila Harjo, Interim Vice President of Student Affairs. Harjo shared the history of Bacone, stating the college was established in 1880 prior to Oklahoma becoming a state. Harjo reported all students at Bacone have the opportunity to participate

Clayton GEAR UP students tour Southeastern Oklahoma State University

January 10, 2019

Clayton 7th and 8th grade GEAR UP students recently toured Southeastern Oklahoma State University, “The Campus of a Thousand Magnolias.” Students were welcomed by University Admissions Counselor/Recruiter Sheridan Burns and Admissions Counselor and Transfer Recruiter Charles Jackson. The tour began in the Glen D. Johnson Student Union. Next, Burns and Jackson led the Clayton students to the Paul Laird Field, the football stadium that was renovated with funding by the city of Durant sales tax.

Spiro seventh grade GEAR UP students visit Oklahoma Aquarium

January 10, 2019

Sixty-seven Spiro seventh grade GEAR UP students recently traveled to Jenks to tour the Oklahoma Aquarium. Students began the morning with an introduction to by Education Specialist Michelle Zarantonello. The tour began with a visit to Reasor’s Shrimp Boat Exhibit where students enjoyed putting their hands in tanks to feed and feel the shrimp. Students toured Amazing Invertebrates to explore the spineless wonders of the world, including sponges, barnacles, starfish, and sea urchins. Students were

Fanshawe 7th and 8th grade GEAR UP students tour Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium in Springfield, MO

January 10, 2019

Fanshawe 7th and 8th grade GEAR UP students recently visited Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium in Springfield, Missouri. Wonders of Wildlife has 35,000 live fish, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and birds in the 350,000 square-foot complex. It contains more than 1.5 miles of trails through authentic, immersive habitats and features 1.5 million gallons of freshwater and saltwater aquariums using innovative designs and over-the-top creativity that transports guests to the heart of the ocean. First

Shady Point GEAR UP students tour the Oklahoma State University Museum of Art and Oklahoma State University

January 7, 2019

Twenty-three GEAR UP seventh and eighth graders from Shady Point School recently toured the Oklahoma State University Museum of Art in Stillwater. Upon arrival, students met with Education and Programming Coordinator Casey Pankey and Education and Programming Interns Gianna Martucci-Fink and Audrey Gleason. Students were divided into two groups to explore the galleries within the Museum. The first exhibition was curated by art history professor Louise Siddons and named Centering Modernism: J. Jay McVicker and

McCurtain GEAR UP students tour Connors State College

January 7, 2019

Twenty-three McCurtain GEAR UP seventh and eighth grade students recently toured Connors State College (CSC) in Warner. Students began their day at CSC in the Fine Arts Auditorium. CSC Assistant Director of Recruitment Megan Duvall and Director of Recruitment Logan Nero provided an introduction to CSC and gave students a flyer and a CSC Cowboys sticker. The flyer showcased CSC’s academic degrees, campus life, tuition cost (comparing the rates of in-state tuition versus out-of-state tuition

Wister 8th grade students visit the Janet Huckabee River Valley Nature Center in Fort Smith, Arkansas

January 7, 2019

Wister 8th grade GEAR UP students recently visited the Janet Huckabee River Valley Nature Center 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. Students discovered representations of the Ouachita and Ozark mountains, a life-sized oak tree exhibit crawling with game and nongame animal displays and a

Spiro Middle School GEAR UP students tour the Oklahoma Aquarium

January 7, 2019

Sixty-four GEAR UP students from Spiro Middle School recently traveled to Jenks to tour the Oklahoma Aquarium. Upon arrival, the eighth graders explored the aquarium and eight exhibits which includes the Amazing Invertebrates exhibit, which explores the spineless wonders of the world featuring sponges, barnacles, starfish, and sea urchins. Other exhibits included Extreme fishes, Marvels and Mysteries, and Aquatic Oklahoma. The Aquatic Oklahoma exhibit features a 120-year-old alligator snapping turtle, a seven-foot-long alligator gar, and

Wister 7th grade students tour the Janet Huckabee River Valley Nature Center in Fort Smith, Arkansas

January 7, 2019

Wister seventh grade GEAR UP students recently visited the Janet Huckabee River Valley Nature Center in Fort Smith, Arkansas. The Janet Huckabee Arkansas River Valley Nature which was previously part of Fort Chaffee, sits on 170 acres of land in Fort Smith. Exhibits play a large part in the nature center. Students discovered representations of the Ouachita and Ozark mountains, a life-sized oak tree exhibit crawling with game and nongame animal displays and a 1,200-gallon

Antlers 8th grade GEAR UP students tour the Tulsa Air and Space and Museum & Planetarium

January 7, 2019

Antlers 8th Grade GEAR UP students recently toured Tulsa Air and Space Museum. Museum Volunteer Pete Barnosky led the tour and pointed out several highlights of the Museum. Following the tour, students had free time to explore the Museum and experience many of the hands-on exhibits—the Grumman F-14A Tomcat, Rockwell Ranger 2000, Bell 47-K Helicopter, the Aeromet Aura, Space Shuttle Robotic Arm and a Model of the Space Shuttle. Next, students boarded the Museum’s MD-80,

Antlers 7th grade GEAR UP students tour the Tulsa Air and Space Museum & Planetarium

January 7, 2019

Antlers 7th grade GEAR UP students recently toured the Tulsa Air and Space Museum & Planetarium. The tour began at the Tulsa Air and Space as Tour Guide Don Cowrey led students aboard the museum’s MD-80 that was donated by American Airlines after 26 years of service and 39,968 flights. On board they had the “Flight Experience” which is a video presentation about space exploration and flight. Students explored the museum and many of the

McAlester 7th graders tour Bacone College and The Five Civilized Tribes Museum

January 7, 2019

Thirty-six McAlester Public School seventh grade GEAR UP students recently traveled to Muskogee to tour Bacone College and The Five Civilized Tribes Museum. The tour began at Bacone College in the Ginny Palmer Center where students met with Athletic Compliance Director/Admission Specialist Juan Davis. Davis shared the history of Bacone, stating the college was the oldest institution of higher learning in Oklahoma. While Bacone was originally established to provide education to Native American students, the

Eufaula GEAR UP eighth graders tour Oral Roberts University

January 7, 2019

Thirty-five GEAR UP students recently traveled to Tulsa to tour Oral Roberts University (ORU). Students began the morning by participating in a guided tour at ORU led by Student Ambassadors Joseph Thomas, a freshman from Montgomery, AL majoring in Business Administration and Allyson Woods, a sophomore from McKinney, TX majoring in Communications. Eufaula students had an inside look at ORU’s campus and learned about programs and resources available for attendees. After a quick welcome at

Hartshorne 8th grade GEAR UP students tour Carl Albert State College

January 7, 2019

Fifty- two Hartshorne Public School 8th grade GEAR UP students recently traveled to Poteau to tour Carl Albert State College (CASC). CASC Viking Ambassador D’karre Lynch began the tour with students in Hemphill Hall where the Student Affairs Office is located. Lynch said the Student Affairs office can assist with anything fun on campus. Students saw the Enrollment Management office where staff assist with scheduling, transfers, and scholarships. Students were advised to visit the Office

Seventy-five Poteau GEAR UP students visit TCC–SE campus

January 7, 2019

Seventy-five Poteau GEAR UP students recently traveled to Tulsa to tour the Southeast campus of Tulsa Community College (TCC–SE). Students were greeted by Admissions Counselor William Baldwin and Student Recruiter Lucia McFarland. Students were led through the VanTrease Performance Arts Center for Education, also known as the PACE Building. Students were given a behind the scenes tour of the auditorium where hair and makeup preparation for productions happens. They also looked inside the shop used

Haileyville 7th and 8th grade GEAR UP students visit the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum

January 7, 2019

Thirty-seven Haileyville seventh and eighth grade GEAR UP students recently visited the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum in Oklahoma City. The museum and memorial were established to remember and honor those who were killed, those who survived, and those who were affected by the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building on April 19, 1995. In the months after the bombing, it became apparent that there was overwhelming support for the creation of

Poteau GEAR UP students tour Tulsa Community College–Southeast Campus

January 4, 2019

Eighty-four seventh grade Poteau GEAR UP students recently traveled to Tulsa to tour the Southeast campus of Tulsa Community College (TCC–SE). Students were greeted by Admissions Counselor William Baldwin and Student Recruiter Lucia McFarland. They were led through Building 9, the Student Union that houses the Student Life offices, the campus store, food court, and fitness center. Students learned that even if they are sign up for only one class through TCC–SE, they can take

Wilburton seventh grade GEAR UP students tour Eastern Oklahoma State College

January 3, 2019

Wilburton 7th grade GEAR UP students recently toured Eastern Oklahoma State College. Eastern Oklahoma State College is a public community college, offering associate degrees and certification programs. The students visited the Music Department, Mountaineer Radio Station, the library, and Student Center. Eastern Recruiter Karen Darby led the tour and spoke to the students about the importance of college and the opportunities that Eastern can provide because it is close to home and has a low

Crowder GEAR UP seventh and eighth graders tour The Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art

January 3, 2019

Forty-nine Crowder GEAR UP students recently traveled to Tulsa to tour The Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art. Dennis Chambers and Pam Johnson greeted students; both have been docents at the museum for many years and were extremely knowledgeable of the Jewish culture and history. Students experienced the full tour of the Holocaust and Judea sections. The museum is ever growing with renovations in progress both inside and out. The Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish

McAlester 8th Grade GEAR UP girls tour Northeastern State University

January 3, 2019

Seventy-eight McAlester 8th grade GEAR UP students recently toured Northeastern State University (NSU) in Tahlequah. Students began the day at the W. Roger Webb Educational Technology Center where they were greeted by Kaylee Switzer, Northeastern State University Representative and alumnae, and Northeastern State University Student Ambassadors, Lexie Billingsley, Sakshi Kaushik, and Brittany Waters. Switzer presented students with an overview of NSU. After the presentation, students were separated into three groups to tour the other buildings

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News Releases

Puterbaugh 7th grade boys tour Bacone College and The Five Civilized Tribes Museum

Clayton GEAR UP students tour Southeastern Oklahoma State University

Spiro seventh grade GEAR UP students visit Oklahoma Aquarium

Fanshawe 7th and 8th grade GEAR UP students tour Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium in Springfield, MO

Shady Point GEAR UP students tour the Oklahoma State University Museum of Art and Oklahoma State University

McCurtain GEAR UP students tour Connors State College

Wister 8th grade students visit the Janet Huckabee River Valley Nature Center in Fort Smith, Arkansas

Spiro Middle School GEAR UP students tour the Oklahoma Aquarium

Wister 7th grade students tour the Janet Huckabee River Valley Nature Center in Fort Smith, Arkansas

Antlers 8th grade GEAR UP students tour the Tulsa Air and Space and Museum & Planetarium

Antlers 7th grade GEAR UP students tour the Tulsa Air and Space Museum & Planetarium

McAlester 7th graders tour Bacone College and The Five Civilized Tribes Museum

Eufaula GEAR UP eighth graders tour Oral Roberts University

Hartshorne 8th grade GEAR UP students tour Carl Albert State College

Seventy-five Poteau GEAR UP students visit TCC–SE campus

Haileyville 7th and 8th grade GEAR UP students visit the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum

Poteau GEAR UP students tour Tulsa Community College–Southeast Campus

Wilburton seventh grade GEAR UP students tour Eastern Oklahoma State College

Crowder GEAR UP seventh and eighth graders tour The Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art

McAlester 8th Grade GEAR UP girls tour Northeastern State University

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