Youngker High School in Buckeye, Arizona, is the latest school to be recognized for its Federal Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) completion numbers. The Arizona Board of Regents awarded the Youngker GEAR UP Team with the FAFSA Challenge Most Innovative Player Award for the month of December– a recognition for schools that use fresh ideas to help students in FAFSA Completion. The Youngker GEAR UP Team, consisting of coaches Denise El Habach and Christina Taylor, work with the school and students year-round…

"It all just came full circle," Jose Pelagio said when asked how he became a GEAR UP Coach at Tonopah Valley High School. Jose is the newest Arizona GEAR UP Team member, but he is no stranger to Tonopah Valley. He returns to his alma mater and hometown to positively change his community. "I'm really excited to be part of GEAR UP. It's amazing to see these types of programs come about and really tap into these communities. I'm excited…

This October, Salt Lake City, Utah, welcomed college access professionals from across the western United States for GEAR UP West. The annual meeting brought together GEAR UP programs to collaborate and share best practices in helping students prepare for postsecondary success. Arizona GEAR UP came out in full force as our state office and school partners were present as both participants and presenters. To kick off the concurrent sessions, Arizona GEAR UP Marketing Content Creator Hector Ponce hosted his “Media…

This October, Downtown Phoenix was the place to be for college prep and readiness. The Be a Leader Foundation hosted the 14th annual Taking Steps Towards College Success event Sunday, October 23, at the Civic Space Park. The free event invited high school students and their families to a resource fair with over 50 booths dedicated to helping students succeed in their high school and postsecondary education careers. “This is our first in-person [Taking Steps] event since the COVID-19 pandemic…

In celebration of National GEAR UP Week and to bring recognition to our students and schools, we have started the “I Heart GEAR UP” campaign, where people from across the state take pictures with the “I Heart GEAR UP” sign and share them with us! It’s easy to participate – just have fun and take photos with the sign, then share them out on your favorite social channel! Check out the support we have gained so far: GEAR UP Schools Agua…

Possible Futures Career Exploration Curriculum helps students in grades 6 – 10 explore STEM occupations, develop essential skills such as collaboration and communication, and learn how to positively contribute to their communities. The Lenses on the Future Unit guides students through the process of creating an Education and Career Action Plans (ECAP). With these 12 lessons, combined with the Arizona-specific career research tool, My Future Az, teachers can lead students through the exploration, reflection, and documentation elements of their individual…

Tucked away in the back of Amphitheater High School in Tucson, Arizona, is one of the school’s most unique learning centers—the school’s greenhouse. Students learn a mix of math, biology, and science while working in the conservatory. Throughout the day, you’ll see them shuffling in and out of this outdoor classroom with tools, notes, and plants in hand. It doesn’t end there; students also learn personal responsibility, sustainability, and teamwork—all skills that will help them succeed in college and beyond.…

Arizona GEAR UP was well represented at this year’s National Council for Community and Education Partnerships/GEAR UP Capacity Building Workshop (CBW). From Feb 14 – 16, three of our very own AZGU team members took center stage and shared their expertise and best practices with hundreds of colleagues from across the country. First up, our Communications Manager Melissa Fast presented alongside an elite team of GEAR UP communications specialists in the “Follow Your Heart: Grow Your Communications Passion” session. The…

Free college tuition is now available to high school graduates across Arizona through a new scholarship initiative. The Arizona Promise Program is a scholarship fund that helps cover tuition costs at Arizona’s three public universities: Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University, and the University of Arizona. The Arizona Promise Program makes college accessible for students who live in low-income communities. Qualifying students will receive free tuition and fees for up to four years with this new scholarship. How to qualify…

Here we are—2022. Self-care remains so important given our current COVID surge. Since none of us likely imagined year two, let alone year three, of a pandemic that has disrupted EVERYTHING, we thought you could use some self-care tips. Here are a few we’re gonna try: Top 10 Self-Care Tips aka. Covid-Care Take a walk. Yeah, it may seem lame or too simple, but remember our friends in the East will risk frostbite within 15-30 minutes outside. Enjoy the sunshine.…

To make sure we’re good stewards of grant funds, Arizona GEAR UP works with ICF, which is an evaluation team. Now, we need your help. It’s time to survey our school communities—educators, parents, and students. If you’re an educator in one of our 5E Schools, a parent, or student, please fill out the survey below. We promise it’ll take just five minutes. But the rest of you aren’t off the hook. Do you know any of the people mentioned above?…

Arizona GEAR UP is proud to welcome our newest team member, Jasmine Dean. She joined GEAR UP in January 2022 as the new Middle Grade Program Manager, where she will work with project partners and middle grade programs throughout Arizona. Jasmine brings over 13 years of experience in education, college readiness, and non-profit work to the Arizona GEAR UP Team. She is also no stranger to GEAR UP programming, previously working with the GEAR UP partnership grant at Arizona State…

To read this article in English, click here. En enero comienza el último semestre de high school para los estudiantes de último año. Durante estos emocionantes y ocupados meses, hay bastante que hacer. Por suerte, Arizona GEAR UP y los entrenadores de GEAR UP están aquí para ayudar. A continuación, hemos proporcionado listas de verificación que las familias pueden seguir basándose en los planes del alumno para después de high school. Impriman este artículo y colóquenlo en el refrigerador para…

Para leer este artículo en español, haga clic aquí. January kicks off the last semester of high school for seniors. During this exciting and busy time, there’s quite a bit to keep track of. Luckily, Arizona GEAR UP and GEAR UP Coaches are here to help. We’ve provided checklists below families can follow based on their student’s plans after high school. Print this article and post on your fridge so everyone in the family can help. Beginning in January, students…

Para leer este artículo en español, haga clic aquí. Dual Enrollment gives high school students the chance to earn college credit while still in high school, and someone else picks up most of the cost. Also, colleges offer financial help for those who need it, so there’s a chance it won’t cost anything. Many students who participate can end up with a year’s worth (or more) of college credit, so it takes less time and money to earn a college…

Arizona GEAR UP and our schools are always looking for new and innovative ways to build a college-going culture. At Tonopah Valley High School, they did just that by successfully completing their first-ever College Road Trip earlier this month. Over a four-day trip, Tonopah Valley students and GEAR UP coaches traveled across Arizona and New Mexico to visit multiple college campuses to learn about the schools and their communities. At the beginning of the year, the coaches announced big plans…

This past October, our partners at Be a Leader Foundation hosted their 13th Annual Taking Steps Towards College Success Virtual Summit. From October 22-23, over 800 students logged on to participate in the virtual summit. The two-day event was completely free and open to all high schoolers across the state and provided resources and workshops to help prepare students for life after high school. On the first day, students were introduced to the event by keynote speaker, Anna Maria Chávez. After…

Arizona GEAR UP is looking for someone to fill our Middle Grade Program Manager position. To apply, visit the job posting on LinkedIn or create an account on NAU's hiring portal. Job Description The Middle Grade Program Manager position is accountable for expanding, managing, and delivering GEAR UP activities and programs to middle-grade schools in Arizona. These schools are feeders to the grant’s 5E partner, and other A60 high schools (please see NAU GEAR-UP website for more information on these…

Do you know someone ready to apply to college, and would you like to be their superhero? We know the college application season intimidates a lot of people, but with a little preparation and guidance, you can streamline the process in no time. Whether you’re helping your child or want to just give them some pointers, we want to make it easy. First, decide what school(s) are the right fit. We all have different interests and passions, so College Board…

Arizona GEAR UP aims to help students prepare and succeed in college and beyond. Thanks to Center for the Future of Arizona (CFA), teachers and students across the state now have access to a brand new, robust, and interactive program that helps students explore all kinds of careers and how to get there. Possible Futures is free for all to use and offers students an opportunity to learn first-hand about careers that interest them. Arizona Pathways to Prosperity, a program…

From October 17-19, GEAR UP members from across the western United States gathered in Billings, Montana for the GEAR UP West Conference. The annual event brings together GEAR UP Programs to discuss projects and progress in educational equity. Arizona GEAR UP’s very own Daniel Pulu presented at the conference. Daniel was joined by Duane Gregg from GEAR UP Tennessee to co-present on one of our flagship projects, the Senior Launch Guide, an all-in-one resource designed to help high school seniors…

La Solicitud Gratuita de Ayuda Federal para Estudiantes, más conocida como FAFSA, es una solicitud que los estudiantes y sus familias completan para obtener fondos para la universidad. Una vez que sometas el FAFSA, recibirás tu elegibilidad para ayuda financiera, que abarca desde becas, subvenciones, estudio-trabajo y varios tipos de préstamos. El formulario FAFSA para el año escolar 2022-23 estará disponible desde el 1 de octubre. Así que, si eres un estudiante de high school (o padre de uno), ahora…

Espańol The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, better known as the FAFSA, is an application students and their families complete in order to qualify for financial aid. Once you successfully fill out the FAFSA, you’ll receive your financial aid eligibility, which ranges from scholarships, grants, work-study, and various types of loans. Grants, scholarships, and work-study are financial awards that do not need to be paid back, but they have limited pools of funding available. So applying as soon as…

Arizona GEAR UP always wants to provide our coaches and educators with resources to support them and their students. Just this month, we have added multiple free online resources to our website. Whether you’re looking for resources for middle grades or high school, check them all out. Discover Guide Starter Kit The Discover Guide Starter Kit provides resources for educators who want to implement the Discover Guide into their curriculum. You can find preview videos about the Discover Guide and…

From special proclamations to fun school events, Arizona GEAR UP partners celebrate National GEAR UP Week. To build more excitement, Student Success Agency (SSA) plans to visit our 5E’s of Equity Schools to kick-off their mentoring program with our students. SSA will give introductions and share how they can help students achieve their academic goals. Student Success Agency was founded in 2012 and leverages current technologies like cell phones and computers to support students outside of the traditional school environment.…

Since the beginning of Arizona GEAR UP, Ann Connelly has been a constant in the program, but in October, she will retire following a 20-year tenure at Arizona GEAR UP. Ann first joined GEAR UP in 2001 after GEAR UP was introduced at the school where she worked as a counselor. As a coach, Ann worked with a cohort of 7th grade students. During her time as a coach, she found a passion for working with middle grade students. “I…

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey has proclaimed Sept. 20-24 as GEAR UP Week, which commends the continued success of Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP). The proclamation coincides with the celebration of National GEAR UP Week. Northern Arizona University has led the Arizona GEAR UP program since 2000. The project has helped increase high school graduation rates, helped create a college-going culture, and increased the college-going rate among Arizona students living in low-income communities. More than 15,000…

As students begin to return to the classroom, stress and anxiety can also come along for many students and parents alike. After more than a year of remote learning, this “new normal” can be overwhelming. This anxiety is normal and completely understandable, but we want to share some ways to help. Be Patient and Supportive. The pandemic took a toll on students academically, emotionally, and mentally. This new school year will bring upon new challenges for everyone, and giving your…