Northwest College student Jose Atilano has been a part of the GEAR UP program through Northwest College and has found success with it.

Photo courtesy NWC

The Northwest College GEAR UP program is participating in National GEAR UP Week 2022. The week commemorates the continuing success of Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP), a college access program providing students and families the support and resources they need for college success.

“GEAR UP is a family program designed to prepare students to be successful in college,” said Rebecca Moncur, GEAR UP Coordinator for the Big Horn Basin. “We offer our students ACT workshops, college visits and summer enrichment-programs. Families are invited to participate in social and educational programs at the college, all at no cost.”

Since its inception in 1999, GEAR UP has improved educational outcomes for millions of low-income, minority and disadvantaged students across the United States. Currently, the Northwest College GEAR UP team serves approximately 250 students annually across the Big Horn Basin from seventh grade through their freshman year of college.

The Northwest College GEAR UP program is celebrating National GEAR UP Week 2022 by recognizing the aspirations and accomplishments of its students. Tenth graders participating in the program consistently outscore other Wyoming students in all subjects on the WY-TOPP test, and in 2021, junior and seniors averaged higher scores on the ACT test than other Wyoming students. Northwest College also saw 100 percent of its participating high school seniors graduate, and 71 percent enrolled in college by the following term.

Once in college, those same students maintain persistent enrollment at higher levels than their peers and most are awarded multiple local, regional, and national scholarships. Last year, GEAR UP students in the Northwest College service area averaged $10,600 in scholarship awards, including the Starr Scholarship, Daniel’s Fund, UW Trustee’s, and Horatio Alger.

One current college freshman stated that “GEAR UP provided me the resources I couldn’t afford, but on top of that, it made me realize I had the potential of succeeding in life, and honestly, breaking some of the repetitive cycles that my family has repeated over and over again.”

For more information about Northwest College GEAR UP, please contact Rebecca Moncur at 307-754-7822 or Cassie Loera at 307-754-7823. To learn more about the national GEAR UP program, please contact the National Council for Community and Education Partnerships at 202-530-1135 or edpartnerships.org.