Area Schools, College Representatives 'GEAR UP' To Help Students
(Press Release 12-19-06)
Hank Mooney, Office of Public Information

Representatives from 19 area high schools recently met at Eastern Oklahoma State College for a /GEAR UP for a Brighter Tomorrow/ Partner meeting. Eastern received a $6.7 million federal GEAR UP grant to help pre-college students succeed with their postsecondary education.

Officials will have $1,129,600 in 2006-07 to reach help 1,400 sixth and seventh graders with tutoring, enrichment and travel programs, counseling, and summer camps to build academic skills and college aspirations. Eastern will guide these students all the way through high school graduation and college admission. Other activities include college and career advisement for students and parents and access to multimedia computers and online interactive educational materials.

The college with campuses in Wilburton and McAlester is the only grant winner in Oklahoma and one of only 27 in the nation. The grant is the largest in Eastern’s history.

Representatives from the Pittsburg county area attending the Gear Up workshop on the campus of Eastern Oklahoma State College include from left: Roger Hemphill, Haileyville; Veronica Miller, Haileyville; David Cravens, Haileyville; David Smith, Quinton; Greta Reasoner, Quinton; Debbie Glenn, Hartshorne; John Bernardi, Hartshorne; Jim Barnes, Hartshorne; Carolyn Miller, Canadian; Kathy Wadsworth, McAlester; Debbie Quadracci; Linda Morgan, Eastern Gear Up Coordinator and Lorrie Russ, Gear Up Professional Development Coordinator for McAlester.

Representatives from the Latimer county area attending the Gear Up workshop on the campus of Eastern Oklahoma State College include from left: Marjorie Powers, Whitesboro; John Turner, Whitesboro; Jerry Mathews, Buffalo Valley; Kyle Vanderburg, Wilburton; Cherish Marshall, Wilburton; Linda Morgan, Eastern Gear Up Director and Ramona Buckner, Gear Up Professional Development Coordinator for Wilburton.

Representatives from the Haskell county area attending the Gear Up workshop on the campus of Eastern Oklahoma State College include from left: Monty Guthrie, Stigler; Rita Echelle, Stigler; Joni Shaw, Keota; Terry Shaw, Keota; Kevin Weiher, McCurtain; Dara Ward, Gear Up Education Coordinator for McCurtain County and Roman Buckner, Gear Up Professional Development Coordinator for Wilburton.

Representatives from the Pushmataha county area attending the Gear Up workshop on the campus of Eastern Oklahoma State College include from left: Carol Snow, Rattan; Mark Virden, Antlers; Donna Brown, Antlers; Jim Dominick, Clayton; Cry Ammons, Clayton; Romana Davis, Clayton; Patricia Glenn, Clayton; LaDonna Baldwin, Gear Up Education Coordinator for Antlers and Lorrie Russ, Gear Up Professional Development Coordinator for McAlester.