Spring Break
ECU hosting college prep camp
GEAR UP NC opens kid's eyes to the idea of college
Nia Richardson
Issue date: 7/30/08 Section: News
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GEAR UP NC (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs North Carolina) serves the purpose of introducing young students to college and making sure that they start and complete college after high school.
This weeklong program will engage students in learning about careers in fields such as nursing, teaching and engineering. They will also participate in academic enrichment workshops to learn study skills, conflict resolution, problem solving and team building skills. The students will also participate in heath and wellness and diversity programs.
GEAR UP NC is a statewide program aimed at increasing the enrollment of students from low-income families into college by making them aware early on of the possibility of college and the opportunities available.
"We follow them all the way through high school, making sure that they take the appropriate classes and activities to ready them to enter into a university program," said Director of Student Outreach, Tarrick Cox.
Students participating in the ECU camp are also active participants in GEAR UP programs in their counties, where they receive counseling, support and academic skills. The program is designed to boost performance in the classroom, and in turn, encourage teachers to have more rigorous academic standards and encourage parents to get involved.
According to Cox, the program has reported a high success rate since it began in 2003.
"We've just received report that a large number of our first group of students have enrolled in college," Cox said. "Thirty of them will be freshmen here at ECU."
ECU served rising ninth and tenth grade students from Cleveland, Columbus, Craven, Forsyth, Granville, Lexington, Martin, Rutherford, Washington and Wayne counties the week of July 22-25 and will serve rising seventh and eighth graders from Martin County the week of July 28-Aug. 1. GEAR UP NC at ECU is sponsored by the ECU College of Education.
This writer can be contacted at news@theeastcarolinian.com.
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