The University of Wyoming and the state’s 7 community colleges are celebrating the success of the GEAR UP college access program with events around Wyoming this week—as part of national GEAR UP week.
GEAR UP—or ‘Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs’—is a federal program that provides low-income families with support and resources for college success.
GEAR Up Wyoming’s information officer Chrissie Henschler says mentors with the state’s program served more than 2,300 junior high and high school students during the last academic school year.
“They go out to the schools and they work with these students,” says Henschler. “They help them with FAFSA completion. They talk them through ACT and grades—and they’re just really a good support system for these students.”
GEAR UP Wyoming is funded through a $3.5 million dollar grant from the U.S. Department of Education and an additional $3.5 million in donations and scholarships.
The events around the state next week are designed to teach the public and policymakers more about the impacts of the program.
