Area Students Attend First GEAR UP Camp
(Press Release 06-03-09)
Hank Mooney, Office of Public Information

Submitted stories

Eastern Oklahoma State College’s GEAR UP for a Brighter Tomorrow grant program partnered with SkyRanch to present the Me Inc. “Get Loud—It’s Game Time!” camps to area GEAR UP students.

Camps were designed to help students determine how well they are playing in the game as a leader. Do they believe they can lead? Are they leading? It has been said that competitive greatness is not about winning a game, it’s about learning to give all we have to give. When we rise to every occasion, give our best effort, and make those around us better, it ultimately does not matter if we are one basket or one yard short.

The five principles of “Get Loud, It’s Game Time”:
1.          How Do You See Yourself
2.         The Power of Your Words and Thoughts
3.         The Past Is the Past
4.         Strength vs. Adversity
5.         See Yourself Winning

The Me Inc. “Get Loud, It’s Game Time!” camp teaches students to embrace and understand these essentials. Students embracing these will not only excel in their personal leadership, but will also ensure a no–regrets experience for those who choose to follow them.

SkyRanch School Programs Outreach Director Jim Franks led the team of nine during the three–day, two–night camps. Students arrived on campus and were welcomed by GEAR UP and Eastern Oklahoma State College staff. They were divided into teams—cobras, dolphins, gators, mustangs, panthers, sharks, tigers, and wolves. After settling into their dorm rooms, campers met in the E. T. Dunlap Ballroom.

The afternoon began with the student viewing Eastern’s recruiting video and receiving view books. Several won door prizes! Campers were then taken on a guided tour of the campus by members of Eastern’s recruiting team. The tour included the Library/Administration Building, Mitchell Hall, Gunning Hall, Sullivan Hall, and the Student Union. Campers also visited Eastern’s bookstore.

The days were filled with educational and outdoor activities. Students also completed collegiate challenges in teams.

“Perhaps their favorite part of the camp was the Mission Impossible game,” said GEAR UP Project Director Linda Morgan. “They worked to gather enough glow sticks to ‘free’ SkyRanch Programs Outreach Director Jim Franks from the Grim Reaper Duke. The team who collected the most sticks won.”

The camp was free to GEAR UP participants. Eastern Oklahoma State College received the $6.7 million grant in 2006. Eastern has partnered with area schools to provide students and school personnel with educational opportunities.

Caption info:

Cobras
GEAR UP students from Clayton, Haileyville, Keota, Panola and Wilburton attended the three–day, two–night GEAR UP camp May 27–29 at Eastern Oklahoma State College. The camp was free to GEAR UP participants. Eastern Oklahoma State College received the $6.7 million grant in 2006. Eastern has partnered with area schools to provide students and school personnel with educational opportunities. Campers were divided into teams—cobras, dolphins, gators, mustangs, panthers, sharks, tigers, and wolves. Pictured above are members of the cobras team.

Front Row (Left to right): Josh Croft, Clayton; Dustin Warren, Clayton; Cody Donoley, Wilburton; and Greg Rose, Wilburton.

Back Row (Left to right): Cole Glover, SkyRanch; DeKayetlynn Wilson, Wilburton; Anna Goad, Panola; Morgan Blehi, Haileyville; Kalib Rainwater, Keota; DeJay King, Clayton; and Alisha Johnson, Wilburton.

Dolphins

GEAR UP students from Clayton, Haileyville, Keota, Panola and Wilburton attended the three–day, two–night GEAR UP camp May 27–29 at Eastern Oklahoma State College. The camp was free to GEAR UP participants. Eastern Oklahoma State College received the $6.7 million grant in 2006. Eastern has partnered with area schools to provide students and school personnel with educational opportunities. Campers were divided into teams—cobras, dolphins, gators, mustangs, panthers, sharks, tigers, and wolves. Pictured above are members of the dolphins team.

Front Row (Left to right): Jacob Saulsbury, Haileyville; Samantha Goad, Panola; and Chelsea Woods, Wilburton.

Back Row (Left to right): Cailee Teague, SkyRanch; Amy Davis, Clayton; Kyle Rainwater, Keota; Matthew Little, Clayton; Jacob Marsh, Wilburton; and Chad Farrell, Wilburton.

Gators

GEAR UP students from Clayton, Haileyville, Keota, Panola and Wilburton attended the three–day, two–night GEAR UP camp May 27–29 at Eastern Oklahoma State College. The camp was free to GEAR UP participants. Eastern Oklahoma State College received the $6.7 million grant in 2006. Eastern has partnered with area schools to provide students and school personnel with educational opportunities. Campers were divided into teams—cobras, dolphins, gators, mustangs, panthers, sharks, tigers, and wolves. Pictured above are members of the gators team.

Front Row (Left to right): Nicole Smith, Wilburton; Jesse Davis, Clayton; Corbin Chadwick, Keota; Bryan Robinson, Keota; Zachary Farrell, Wilburton; and Daniel Anderson, Wilburton.

Back Row (Left to right): Chris Muse, SkyRanch; Dylan Martin, Clayton; Kendrick Wynn, Wilburton; Mark Ivey, Panola; and Brady Champion, Haileyville.

Mustangs

GEAR UP students from Clayton, Haileyville, Keota, Panola and Wilburton attended the three–day, two–night GEAR UP camp May 27–29 at Eastern Oklahoma State College. The camp was free to GEAR UP participants. Eastern Oklahoma State College received the $6.7 million grant in 2006. Eastern has partnered with area schools to provide students and school personnel with educational opportunities. Campers were divided into teams—cobras, dolphins, gators, mustangs, panthers, sharks, tigers, and wolves. Pictured above are members of the mustangs team.

Front Row (Left to right): Jessica Davis, Clayton; Kaley Menasco, Wilburton; and Deadra Strader, Panola.

Back Row (Left to right): Sarah Tucker, SkyRanch; Zachary Taylor, Wilburton; Brandon Gerard, Wilburton; Blake Hearton, Keota; and Randall Thomas, Keota.

Sharks & Panthers

GEAR UP students from Clayton, Haileyville, Keota, Panola and Wilburton attended the three–day, two–night GEAR UP camp May 27–29 at Eastern Oklahoma State College. The camp was free to GEAR UP participants. Eastern Oklahoma State College received the $6.7 million grant in 2006. Eastern has partnered with area schools to provide students and school personnel with educational opportunities. Campers were divided into teams—cobras, dolphins, gators, mustangs, panthers, sharks, tigers, and wolves. Pictured above are members of the sharks and panthers teams.

Front Row (Left to right): Felecia Clark, Wilburton; Michelle Gragg, Haileyville; Hannah Truitt, Wilburton; Bradley Gibbs, Clayton; Deniecsha Scarberry, Clayton; Sydney Underwood, Panola; and Jessica Robinette, Wilburton.

Back Row (Left to right): Sean Kern, SkyRanch; David Dawson, Haileyville; Boone Epperson, Clayton; Branden Potts, Clayton; and Christie Martin, SkyRanch.

Tigers

GEAR UP students from Clayton, Haileyville, Keota, Panola and Wilburton attended the three–day, two–night GEAR UP camp May 27–29 at Eastern Oklahoma State College. The camp was free to GEAR UP participants. Eastern Oklahoma State College received the $6.7 million grant in 2006. Eastern has partnered with area schools to provide students and school personnel with educational opportunities. Campers were divided into teams—cobras, dolphins, gators, mustangs, panthers, sharks, tigers, and wolves. Pictured above are members of the tigers team.

Front Row (Left to right): Dalton Little, Clayton; Adrianna Coley, Panola; and Skye Webb, Wilburton.

Back Row (Left to right): Heather Evans, SkyRanch; Courtney Deela, Wilburton; Brittany Knott, Keota; and Natalie Gillian, Clayton.

Wolves

GEAR UP students from Clayton, Haileyville, Keota, Panola and Wilburton attended the three–day, two–night GEAR UP camp May 27–29 at Eastern Oklahoma State College. The camp was free to GEAR UP participants. Eastern Oklahoma State College received the $6.7 million grant in 2006. Eastern has partnered with area schools to provide students and school personnel with educational opportunities.Campers were divided into teams—cobras, dolphins, gators, mustangs, panthers, sharks, tigers, and wolves. Pictured above are members of the wolves team.

Front Row (Left to right): Michael Holt, Clayton; Joe Nickel, Haileyville; and Chuck Higdon, Wilburton.

Back Row (Left to right): Casey Muse, SkyRanch; Sheibre Staley, Clayton; Andrew Croft, Clayton; Zachary Ramirez, Wilburton; Murrell Deela, Wilburton; and Stetson Johnson, Clayton.