For a majority of students in grade school, attending a college or some form of higher learning is the goal after they’ve graduated high school.
Unfortunately, there is a large number of these students who are unable to attend college due to financial reasons, underperforming in the classroom, or a lack of resources available to them. Thanks to the GEAR UP program, students who would otherwise miss out on the chance to attend universities now have a chance to live out their goals.
According to National Council for Community and Education Partnership’s website, “The GEAR UP initiative was authorized by Title IV of the 1998 Amendments to the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) and was signed into public law on September 29, 1998 by President Clinton.”
Utah Valley University runs Utah’s GEAR UP program, and works with four colleges to serve underprivileged students. Utah State University Eastern, San Juan Foundation, Salt Lake Community College, and Weber State University take five-year grant cycles to utilize the federal funding and programs that GEAR UP provides.
In both Carbon and Emery counties, USU Eastern, in accordance with the GEAR UP program, works with middle schools and the five neighboring high schools. This year, the program recognized 32 students at USU Eastern’s first annual “Senior Signing Day.”
Among those recognized is a plethora of highly motivated students who have worked hard to prepare and ready themselves for the next step in their educational endeavors. Brandon Flores, who is the GEAR UP director for the college, elaborated on some of the achievements and aspirations that the program’s participants accomplished.
“One GEAR UP student from each of our five high schools was selected as a recipient of the new ‘USU Eastern GEAR UP Student of the Year Scholarship’ for $1,000 each,” Flores said.
Each student came from various backgrounds and different walks of life, but they all shared the same determination to see that their dreams to seek higher education came to fruition.
The students who received the scholarships are:
Carbon High School
Alisa Tallerico
Alisa was born in Price and has a twin sister, an older sister and younger brother. In high school she was the president of the Key Club, involved in soccer for 3 years and participated in track this past year. She will be graduating with High Honors and will be attending USU Eastern until she earns her associate degree. After that, she will finish her schooling at USU in Logan. She wants to be a digital media/computer teacher and teach either at a high school or middle school, and would love to come back to teach at Carbon High.
“The program itself I think helped me a lot… it helped me decide what college to go to… and helped me get ready [scholarship-wise],” Tallerico said.
Lighthouse High School
Zackary Dickerson
Zack Dickerson is outgoing, ambitious, and goal-oriented. Zack is dedicated to his future, has excellent grades and works hard. Zack plans to become a veterinarian. After he graduates high school, he plans to attend USU Eastern then transfer to a larger University that will be more fitted to help him meet his goals.
“GEAR UP influenced my decision [to prepare for college]. In my junior high years I was straight F’s. Throughout the years it’s just helped me progress and, for the last two years, I’ve been a straight-A and B student,” Dickerson said.
Emery High School
Buskin Allred
Buskin Allred is a Senior at Emery High and has been selected as Emery High’s GEAR UP Student of the year. [He] is involved with choir and yearbook and is busy after school, working and getting ready for college. [He] is interested in computer science and business. [He] plans to attend Utah State University Eastern this fall and has many goals for his future. Buskin says that,
“Thanks to GEAR UP, [I have] realized how many resources there are out there and no matter where you come from, or no matter your background there is always a way you can achieve your dreams.”
Green River High School
Yesenia Hernandez
Yesenia Hernandez is a hard-working student that always has time to help others. She is currently student body president, head cheerleader and involved in many different activities throughout the community. She is active in the Green River Teen Center and participates in Teen Dinners and STEM activities. [She] has currently been accepted to USU Eastern and plans to attend in the fall. Yesenia was unavailable for a comment.
Pinnacle High School
Valentin Acosta
Valentin Acosta is an incredible young man. Throughout his life, Valentin has triumphed over many obstacles. He is a leader, a coach, and an outstanding student. [He] is actively pursuing a career in engineering. He completed the Introduction to Engineering course with an A at USU Eastern and was chosen to attend the USU Engineering Camp last summer. [He] has not only excelled in academics, but also on the basketball court, where he was the captain of his team and named the prestigious Sutherland’s Athlete of the Week. During his Junior and Senior years of high school, [He] has held a job, helped his family, played sports, and still managed to achieve a 3.5 overall GPA Valentin is not only himself a success story, but a person who inspires others to succeed.
“[GEAR UP] actually influenced me quite a bit. I actually thought, at some point in my life… that I didn’t think I would succeed after high school. Like going to college because of financial issues and stuff, but GEAR UP has made it easy for me and has helped me a lot through it,” Acosta said.
USU Eastern’s Vice Chancellor Greg Dart, who spoke at the ceremony, was enthusiastic when asked about GEAR UP’s success and pointed out the program’s overall success with students involved.
“The GEAR UP program has been amazing. It’s a program that helps out students who are underserved…to help them keep college and university studies as a goal. Students are getting a great opportunity to be involved and a really great path to higher education to step up in life,” Dart said.
Dart also commented on the need for a ramped-up effort needed to raise awareness for the program. “What we haven’t necessarily done the best job at is getting the word out to the community at large. I don’t think that most people understand really what the program is. As we share information about some of these students, and what they are doing, people become more aware of what’s going on,” he said.
Dart mentioned that there are several activities that people can participate in this summer will help people gain a greater understanding of GEAR UP’S overall contributions. There will be events such as the ACT Boot Camp, which will help underserved and underrepresented students improve upon their ACT scores. Interested parents and students can also take campus tours Monday through Friday every week, throughout the summer.
For more details and information regarding GEAR UP-related activities, go to usueastern.edu.