A new college awareness initiative is gaining traction in Lenoir County.
GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) was implemented in Lenoir County Schools in August for seventh and 12th grade students.
“Our focus is to get kids into college and to let every child know that college is indeed obtainable, no matter their background (and) no matter their financial history,” said Jeannine Haigler, local GEAR UP student coordinator.
While the program just began in the county, GEAR UP North Carolina has existed since 1998, funded through a federal grant from the U.S. Department of Education. Haigler said the amount the school system receives each year depends on the success rate of the program.
She said GEAR UP counties graduate students 12.1 percent higher than others.
“GEAR UP knows that it’s better to come out of college with a $20,000 student loan than it is to never have attended,” Haigler said. “It’s proven that people who complete a four-year degree make a million dollars more in a lifetime than high school graduates.”
Seventh graders are targeted and encouraged towards college early on, which includes exposing them through campus visits. Lenoir County seventh graders have already visited N.C. Central and UNC Wilmington, with N.C. State, N.C. A&T and Appalachian State anticipated.
GEAR UP, as one of its objectives, surveys students on their career choices and places them in businesses across the county.
Today, 100 seventh graders will be at Lenoir Memorial Hospital for a presentation about what different careers are offered in the medical field.
Up to 10 speakers from varying departments will discuss the education, salary and experiences of their careers.
“(They) are going to be speaking to them about the jobs and the duties they have here at the hospital and how they’re not all about being nurses and doctors,” said Lisa Wallace, LMH Director of Clinical Services and Staff Development. “(The students) get a really good sampling of the different areas.”
The hospital is one of many stops students will have through GEAR UP. By March 7, nearly 650 seventh graders will have been exposed to several Lenoir County businesses.
By the end of each GEAR UP year, academic performance and postsecondary education is expected to be increased, and GEAR UP will work with this first group of seventh graders until the end of their first year in college.
Jessika Morgan can be reached at 252-559-1078 or at jessika.morgan@kinston.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessikaMorgan.
