Sweet Water launches GEAR UP initiative

Annie Robertson and Tanya Williams, the Gear Up facilitators at Sweet Water High School, recently kicked off the Gear Up program with a week of events including a Pep Rally with guest speakers and a balloon release.

Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) is a discretionary grant program designed to increase the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education. This is accomplished by providing activities aimed at increasing college attendance and completion by raising low-income students’ awareness of college and

financial aid options, increasing their participation in academically challenging courses, and supporting them through the college admissions process.

GEAR UP provides six-year grants to states to provide services at high-poverty middle and high schools. GEAR UP grantees serve an entire cohort of students beginning no later than the seventh grade and follow the cohort through high school.