As part of the continued mission of preparing low-income students for entering and succeeding in post-secondary education, the University of Washington State GEAR UP Project offered a College Planning Series over the course of the year that included regional workshops on college applications, scholarships, and the transition to life after high school for seniors in Washington State GEAR UP programs.
Educational Outreach Specialist Jon Solomon traveled to 10 schools across Washington state, meeting with hundreds of students and parents to provide advice and guidance for what was to come as they embarked on the next step in their education.
Workshops were held at the following high schools: Eastmont (East Wenatchee), Fort Vancouver (Vancouver), Monroe (Monroe), Neah Bay (Neah Bay), Okanogan (Okanogan), Quincy (Quincy) Squalicum (Bellingham), Thomas Jefferson (Auburn), Wenatchee (Wenatchee), and West Valley (Spokane).
During a workshop visit to Wenatchee-area high schools, Florangela Davila, lecturer from the UW Department of Communication, accompanied Solomon to Wenatchee High School. Before the workshop, Davila gathered perspectives from some of the students about their lives, what was in store for the future, and how GEAR UP has helped them along the way. She put together a video that can be viewed on the OMA&D You-Tube page here.
GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) fosters college awareness and readiness for low-income middle and high school students by providing a variety of programs targeted to students, administrators, and teachers.