National GEAR UP Day Recap

The first National GEAR UP Day (September 18) brought together community leaders, political representatives, students, parents, partners, and educators to celebrate the GEAR UP college access initiative. From coast to coast and beyond to Hawaii and American Samoa, state and regional programs celebrated with a variety of activities that included GEAR UP Day proclamations from members of Congress, governors and mayors; partner luncheons; student dream walls; formal press conferences; assemblies featuring school board superintendents and university representatives; and presentations by GEAR UP graduates.

Here in Oregon, celebrations took place at Western Oregon University and Eastern Oregon University. WOU hosted students and staff of Taft 7-12 High School (Lincoln City), and EOU brought students and staff from Stanfield Secondary School to campus.

GEAR UP Day was noted in the Congressional Record of September 22 - including special mention of EOU's event in La Grande. See the attachment for more details.