LARAMIE, Wyo. — Today’s economy and job market are making a college degree or trade school education almost mandatory, and one group is helping students reach their goal of a higher education.
The national organization GEAR UP—or Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs—helps income-eligible students apply and enter a college or university.
“The support the students get from us is amazing,” said Chrissie Henschler, public relations and professional development coordinator for GEAR UP Wyoming. “We help them get through school and into higher education.”
The University of Wyoming is the hub of operations in partnership with the seven state community colleges. Coordinators at each college work with 2,300 grade students in the state’s many junior high and high schools to get students the help they need, said Adam Keizer, program manager at Laramie County Community College.
“Throughout the week, we go into the schools and contact every student we try to serve,” Keizer told the Laramie Boomerang. “When they get out of homeroom or class, they come talk to a coordinator. We look at their grades together, determine if they need tutoring and help set goals for attending college.”
National GEAR UP Week is this week. Each college has events planned, such as a barbecue or media blitz. LCCC will give T-shirts to its school liaisons and show videos to students in Laramie and Albany counties.
The program offers different services for the students as they get closer to applying to colleges, Keizer said.
