USU STARS GEAR UP in the News
The USU STARS GEAR UP program aspires to expand college readiness and the college bound culture in Utah. One way of doing this is to share successes and information on our programs through local news stories. This page contains downloadable articles mentioning schools, staff, and students associated with the program in the general media. For more stories and articles on the program, please visit our News & Highlights or Newsletter sections.
Visit our contact page to reach out for more information.
2026 Stories
More than 200 Valley Junior High students moseyed their way through Utah Valley University and Brigham Young University campuses wearing new GEAR UP hoodies. For many students, this is their first time visiting a college campus.
USU STARS GEAR UP
February 10, 2026USU STARS GEAR UP
Mount Logan Middle School eighth-graders gained hands-on insight from various Cache Valley professionals during a college and career exploration event. Students learned about diverse career paths from various instructors.
USU STARS GEAR UP
January 23, 2026USU STARS GEAR UP
2025 Stories
Eisenhower Junior High Students got first-hand knowledge of professional service trades during a “Lunch With a Professional” event in November.
USU STARS GEAR UP
December 19, 2025USU STARS GEAR UP
Over one hundred American Preparatory Academy families joined online to learn about financial literacy. Everyone explored the basics of budgeting, managing debt and retirement planning.
USU STARS GEAR UP
December 12, 2025USU STARS GEAR UP
Kennedy Junior High students eagerly entered the gym with their reality town book in hand, ready to take on a unique challenge – living life as 30-year-olds.
USU STARS GEAR UP
December 1, 2025USU STARS GEAR UP
One hundred Ogden Preparatory Academy seventh graders excitedly hopped on a bus to learn about college life at a nearby university – Weber State University.
USU STARS GEAR UP
October 29, 2025USU STARS GEAR UP
USU STARS GEAR UP hosted a combined 100 first-year college students to Northern California and the Pacific Northwest in August on two week-long bus tours. The trips were designed to give students the opportunity to learn first-hand about post-secondary education opportunities outside Utah...
USU STARS GEAR UP
October 27, 2025USU STARS GEAR UP
Eight recent American Preparatory Academy West Valley II graduates traveled to San Francisco, California, in mid-July for the Youth Leadership Summit. The event challenged students to step outside their comfort zones, strengthen their leadership abilities...
USU STARS GEAR UP
October 14, 2025USU STARS GEAR UP
Representatives of a nationally recognized youth empowerment program, Cool Speak, visited West Lake Junior High School in West Valley City, Utah, to inspire seventh grade students to prepare for the future. The three-day camp was aimed at middle school students to help them develop confidence and plan to attend college one day. The event was hosted by Utah State University STARS GEAR UP.
USU STARS GEAR UP
July 10, 2025USU STARS GEAR UP
Utah State University STARS GEAR UP school site coordinators and college advisors met with various vendor partners to explore potential programming opportunities for the upcoming school year.
USU STARS GEAR UP
July 10, 2025USU STARS GEAR UP
LOGAN — A group of middle school students from the Cache and Salt Lake valleys is taking part in a two-day camp at Utah State University. The camp is mostly focused on kids who may become first-generation college grads for their families.
KSLtv.com
July 9, 2025KSLtv.com
Eighteen GEAR UP students who are enrolled in universities across Utah recently completed a 57-mile, multi-day rafting trip as part of a hands-on education experience.
Utah State Today
June 10, 2025Utah State Today
The smells of sizzling meats, chopped cilantro, fresh limes, and happy seniors filled the back common area of American Preparatory Academy’s West Valley II campus for a decision day celebration.
USU STARS GEAR UP
May 28, 2025USU STARS GEAR UP
USU STARS GEAR UP college advisers welcomed students from the program's fourth cohort to decompress from the stress of finals on April 22 on the Salt Lake Community College Taylorsville campus.
Utah State Today
May 8, 2025Utah State Today
As GEAR UP graduate college students move through their first year, knowing what resources and financial support options are available is a definite boon. In January, our GEAR UP college advisors met with students to show them scholarship options, and how to apply for them.
USU STARS GEAR UP
Feburary 14, 2025USU STARS GEAR UP
Utah State Today
January 22, 2025
When further academic growth is desired, it can be useful to know what your options are. The GEAR UP Transfer Bus Tour in December 2024 gave GEAR UP graduates at Utah colleges the opportunity to visit Universities across the state, and showed them what resources were available at each.
USU STARS GEAR UP
January 6, 2025USU STARS GEAR UP
2024 Stories
As finals draw near, GEAR UP advisors hosted Crunch Time: Nachos & Finals Prep. Advisors gave students self-care and study tips, while students enjoyed nachos, resources, and the company of a therapy dog.
USU STARS GEAR UP
December 6, 2024USU STARS GEAR UP
At Salt Lake Community College (SLCC) West Jordan, GEAR UP students were given a tour of potential education options in the Health field, and learned more about the opportunities available to them as prospective SLCC students.
USU STARS GEAR UP
December 4, 2024USU STARS GEAR UP
GEAR UP LEVEL UP hosted events this October for students to meet their Academic Advisors, and to help them get prepared for the classes to come. These events were hosted at Salt Lake Community College, and the University of Utah.
USU STARS GEAR UP
November 5, 2024USU STARS GEAR UP
In order to help our GEAR UP graduates from Granite School District, the GEAR UP LEVEL UP team hosted GEAR UP & GO, an event where students and their families could network and learn about their options following high school.
USU STARS GEAR UP
September 25, 2024USU STARS GEAR UP
GEAR UP graduates from Granite School District met with their new coordinators for their first year of college. Our GEAR UP team and site coordinators hosted "Welcome Back" events at the University of Utah and Salt Lake Community College, where they familiarized students with the resources available.
USU STARS GEAR UP
September 6, 2024USU STARS GEAR UP
Adventure and knowledge await! This June, GEAR UP students and staff travelled along the San Juan river, learning about biology, culture, and the environment, all while camping and boating in the great outdoors!
USU STARS GEAR UP
July 23, 2024USU STARS GEAR UP
In June, students travelled to southern Utah to explore national parks, learn academic skills, and tour college campuses. This camp is an annual event in which GEAR UP students socialize and experience new opportunities, all guided by GEAR UP staff and college professors.
USU STARS GEAR UP
July 19, 2024USU STARS GEAR UP
Exploring a variety of skills is key for students trying to decide what they want to study in college. At the USU Biology Camp, students had the opportunity to learn biology-related careers hands-on from a variety of professors and professionals.
USU STARS GEAR UP
July 12, 2024USU STARS GEAR UP
Texas Instruments has opened the doors to our GEAR UP students, showing them the practical application of science. GEAR UP students from Kearns and Taylorsville High School had the opportunity to visit their facility, and learn more about their potential futures in the tech industry.
USU STARS GEAR UP
March 7, 2024USU STARS GEAR UP
Logan High School GEAR UP students have been productive! During the months of January and February, students visited both Utah Valley University and Snow College campuses, as well as learning more about the process of completing the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).
USU STARS GEAR UP
February 29, 2024USU STARS GEAR UP
Completing the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) can be challenging! To aid with this, USU STARS! GEAR UP put together a FAFSA Night with the help from the USU Financial Aid Office, in which students and their families could get help filling out the FAFSA.
USU STARS GEAR UP
February 27, 2024USU STARS GEAR UP
During January and February, Manti High School GEAR UP students had multiple opportunities to learn hands-on skills, the practical application of political studies, and recieve help preparing for college. From FAFSA night and Pathways Day, to tours of the Utah State Capital; Manti GEAR UP students have learned and shared quite a large amount!
USU STARS GEAR UP
February 13, 2024USU STARS GEAR UP
Hands-on learning experiences are cruicial when a student is presented with many options for their future. GEAR UP students from the Granite School District had the opportunity to visit Texas Instruments, and learn more about their potential futures in the tech industry.
USU STARS GEAR UP
February 5, 2024USU STARS GEAR UP
Graduating high school Seniors from the Granite School District share their experiences through the GEAR UP program, along with the opportunities that GEAR UP has provided them for the future.
USU STARS GEAR UP
January 30, 2024USU STARS GEAR UP
2023 Stories
Learning about the culture and facilities of a school can greatly help prospective students decide where to enroll. It can be a challenge, however, to learn everything that is needed about universities without visiting them directly. GEAR UP College Bus Tours give these prospective students the opportunity to visit many universities across Utah, and to see what truly makes them unique.
USU STARS GEAR UP
December 22, 2023USU STARS GEAR UP
Most high school students struggle to keep track of everything they need to know heading into college, especially when given a wide variety of information from an even wider array of sources. On December 1st and 2nd, GEAR UP high school students had the opportunity to attend the College Prep Retreat, an overnight event with the goal of answering important questions about college registration and financial aid.
USU STARS GEAR UP
December 5, 2023USU STARS GEAR UP
The college application experience can be intimidating, especially for high school students that are juggling their own academic responsibilities at the same time. In order to help their students, Manti High School had their "College Application Week", with various events and visitors making up the schedule. Because of this event, students were provided with useful resources and information to assist their futures.
USU STARS GEAR UP
December 4, 2023USU STARS GEAR UP
Each year, Southern Utah University (located in Cedar City, UT) hosts an event known as Red Riot. At this event, high school students are able to stay overnight and experience an exciting sample of the SUU culture, while also learning about scholarship opportunities, class information, and the campus layout. This year, five GEAR UP students were able to attend Red Riot, which they described as an incredible event.
USU STARS GEAR UP
November 22, 2023USU STARS GEAR UP
The Mountain West Grand Prix 2023 was held on April 25 at the Utah Motorsports Campus. Students from various schools in Utah participated in the 8th annual Greenpower electric car racing event, which offers a hands-on STEM education challenge for students to learn by doing and interacting with their peers.
USU STARS GEAR UP
May 10, 2023USU STARS GEAR UP
SnowBlast is an overnight program that allows high school students to experience campus life before starting college. Students had the opportunity to stay with a Snow College Ambassador and see what college life is like. They enjoyed a campus tour, dinner and breakfast, and a Snow College activity.
USU STARS GEAR UP
May 8, 2023USU STARS GEAR UP
The Utah State University STARS! GEAR UP program offers several summer programs and activities aimed at improving learning and college readiness. These programs and activities take place at Utah State University's Logan campus, as well as Utah Tech and Southern Utah University.
USU STARS GEAR UP
April 20, 2023USU STARS GEAR UP
CoolSpeak returned to Utah for a classroom takeover with 1,800 GEAR UP 11th-grade students in attendance. Students learned how to write poetry about themselves. Presenters also engaged students by sharing their personal stories and advice on writing winning scholarships and college application essays.
USU STARS GEAR UP
April 5, 2023USU STARS GEAR UP
College Advisors are frequent visitors to GEAR UP schools. Their goal is to meet with high school students before they graduate and build connections. Our schools have done a great job of including GEAR UP College Advisors in school events, such as Talking Tuesday.
USU STARS GEAR UP
March 15, 2023USU STARS GEAR UP
Engineering Education prepares both students and teachers of STEM to learn about engineering principles before students enter college. A recent article highlights the longstanding partnership that GEAR UP has had with the College of Engineering at Utah State University.
USU STARS GEAR UP
March 14, 2023USU STARS GEAR UP
Utah State Today
March 03, 2023
USU STARS GEAR UP
February 16, 2023
USU STARS GEAR UP
February 15, 2023
USU STARS GEAR UP
February 15, 2023
USU STARS GEAR UP
February 10, 2023
USU STARS GEAR UP
January 20, 2023
USU STARS GEAR UP
January 17, 20232022 Stories
Utah State University/College of Education and Human Services
June 23, 2022
Tutor.com Press and Media Center
June 17, 2022
Utah State Today
June 8, 2022
KSL News at 5
Apr 26, 2022
2021 Stories
Students from 13 Utah schools recently gathered in Tooele to race small electric vehicles at the annual Mountain West Grand Prix, hosted by USU’s Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) program. This hands-on STEM education event is the only one of its kind in Utah.
Utah State University/College of Education and Human Services
May 11, 2021
Utah State University’s STARS! GEAR UP is a program affiliated with the Emma Eccles Jones College of Education. The program supports students from middle school through their first year of college.
Cache Valley Daily
May 3, 2021
The track at the Utah Motorsports Campus was alive Tuesday with the sounds of electric race cars for the 2021 Mountain West Grand Prix.
Fox13 News, Salt Lake City
Apr 20, 2021
2020 Stories
Utah State Today
Oct 22, 2020
Utah State Today
Oct 21, 2020
2019 Stories
Siemens Blog
Dec 24, 2019
get their hands on their projects —but not just the typical bridges built with toothpicks.
Utah State Today
Dec 2, 2019
Utah State Today
Nov 12, 2019
effective programs focused on increasing the college and career readiness of low-income students in communities nationwide,"
according to the National Council for Community and Education Partnership website.
South Salt Lake Journal
Oct 3, 2019
Siemens Blog
Jul 9, 2019
The Herald Journal
Jun 27, 2019
Utah State Today
May 28, 2019
The Herald Journal
Apr 25, 2019
ABC 4 News
Apr 25, 2019
Utah Public Radio
Apr 25, 2019
Utah State Today
Apr 16, 2019
Sanpete Messenger
Mar 13, 2019
2018 Stories
Utah State Today
Oct 16, 2018
Utah State Today
Sep 18, 2018
Utah State Today
Sep 4, 2018
Utah Public Radio
Jun 5, 2018
FOX 13 News
Apr 26, 2018
2017 Stories
Utah State Today
Aug 10, 2017
The Herald Journal
Jun 29, 2017
Utah Public Radio
Jun 1, 2017
Utah State Today
May 19, 2017
The Herald Journal
May 19, 2017
CacheValleyDaily.com
May 19, 2017
Sanpete Messenger
May 4, 2017
FOX 13 News
Apr 27, 2017
Deseret News
Apr 27, 2017
The Herald Journal
Mar 6, 2017
The Herald Journal
Feb 6, 2017
The Herald Journal
Jan 11, 2017
2016 Stories
Utah State Today
Dec 14, 2016
Utah State Today
Apr 21, 2016
The Herald Journal
Mar 18, 2016
2015 Stories
Utah State Today
Oct 9, 2015