Governor Declares GEAR UP Week in Utah
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox has declared the week of Sept 20 – 24 GEAR UP Week in Utah. The declaration coincides with the celebration of National GEAR UP Week 2021, as well as many events in our schools.
Utah Gov. Spencer J. Cox National GEAR UP Week Message
Utah Gov. Spencer J. Cox National GEAR UP Week Message in Spanish
The declaration recognizes that thousands of students have achieved the dream of going to college as a result of GEAR UP in Utah
GEAR UP in Utah currently has both GEAR UP state and partnership grants currently serving over 17,000 students in rural and urban settings throughout Utah in the upcoming 2021-2022 school year. This week commemorates the continuing success of GEAR UP, which stands for Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs. The national, federally funded grant program is designed to increase the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education.
As part of the GEAR UP week celebrations in Utah, Gov. Cox addressed all GEAR UP students in Utah with pre-recorded videos in English and Spanish. He talked about his own educational journey, attending mostly Utah schools, including North Sanpete High School, a high school actively served by Utah State University STARS! GEAR UP grants two and three.
“Start thinking now, about what it is that you want to do and what it is you want to be,” said Cox during the video address. “It's never too early to start to prepare. And then when you get an opportunity to go to college or to work on a certificate, in some field that you're excited about, to be patient with yourself…. be sure to take advantage of all that GEAR UP has to offer, they are here to help you.”
GEAR UP in Utah currently has both GEAR UP state and partnership grants currently serving over 17,000 students in rural and urban settings throughout Utah in the upcoming 2021-2022 school year. GEAR UP state and partnership grants came together to collaborate with the Utah Governor’s Office to produce the videos and declaration.
Utah State University STARS! was awarded its first seven-year grant in 2012 from the U.S. Department of Education to provide student services. Additional grants were awarded to the program in 2015, 2017, and 2018. These four awards total $64 million with schools and partners matching an equal amount to support programming in schools.
GEAR UP partner schools are located in both urban and rural communities. They serve an entire grade band, or cohort, of students at a school, starting in seventh grade and continuing to work with the same students through the first year of college. Site coordinators at each school work with administrators and staff to plan activities that meet the needs of their community, such as include college visits, financial aid awareness nights for parents and students, tutoring and academic support, and college and career fairs.
The USU STARS! GEAR UP office and partners support professional development and summer programs for schools and staff. Utah State University administers the GEAR UP partnership grants through the Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services as part of the Center for the School of the Future.