GEAR UP: Improvement program springs to life Published July 10, 2008 By Airman 1st Class Daryl Knee 90th Missile Wing Public Affairs F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo. -- A program that started in 1998 as a means to help disadvantaged children prepare for college has spread and now has earned nation-wide acceptance. The Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs offers many chances for children, as early of seventh grade, a chance to understand what is needed to gain acceptance into a two-year or four-year college plan. "It's hard for some students to realize that school is important even when you're in seventh grade," said Lauren Jones, assistant outreach coordinator. "When the children enter our program, we follow them every step of the way until we know they are fully prepared for education after high school." The GEAR UP program includes activities ranging from free tutoring to educational field trips to local colleges or workshops, Ms. Jones said. The program staff also helps advise students about which classes need to be taken, advises students about career paths and helps transfer credits between colleges. "It's all designed for the student," she said. "We're here to help them succeed." The program is run differently at each state level, she said. Some states select schools with 50 percent disadvantaged families and start there to help. With Cheyenne, the program offers the capability for most children to enroll into. A wage information sheet must be filled out and filed with the GEAR UP staff, but spaces are still available for children to enroll. The program is federally funded, she said. Students who stay enrolled within the program and who show a desire to pursue education may be awarded scholarships. The scholarships will help with the cost of tuition and books but not boarding. There are many opportunities to volunteer as a mentor, she said. The GEAR UP staff is always looking for someone to tutor children. For more information about the GEAR UP program, call Ms. Jones at 432-1665.