Students give two thumbs up to GEAR UP Program
If you strolled by the College of Eastern Utah’s Library Pit, Oct. 7, at 5:30 p.m., you probably saw about 50 GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Progams) students and their parents enjoying a barbecue provided by CEU Catering. You probably also noticed Carbon Recreation’s climbing wall being scaled by several of these students.
This archived article was written by: Brenda Rawson
If you strolled by the College of Eastern Utah’s Library Pit, Oct. 7, at 5:30 p.m., you probably saw about 50 GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Progams) students and their parents enjoying a barbecue provided by CEU Catering. You probably also noticed Carbon Recreation’s climbing wall being scaled by several of these students.
This gathering was GEAR UP’s fourth annual open house. As the outside temperature dropped, the group moved to the Jennifer Leavitt Student Center’s Alumni Room where the balance of the program included lively entertainment by CEU’s famous On-the-Spot Actors as well as Melinda Swink’s recognition of the program’s six scholarship awardees, Megan Roach, Ben Tupaz, Marlen Polito, Bobbie Pell, Ashley DeRossett, and Jenafer Henrie. All six students attend CEU.
Also, one scholarship awardee’s mom, Peggy Golding, spoke about the merits of the GEAR UP program and how it helped her son, Ben Tupaz, become a better student in high school and go on to win a GU scholarship.
Colleen Loveless, the guest speaker, engaged the audience with her remarks on attitude, commitment and focus, goal-setting, victory over failure, and, in general, life and education as a joyful journey, all critical assets to help one make it through college which is the principle behind the GU program.
The drawing for a laptop by one lucky Green River senior, Robert Pitt, ranked as the highlight of the evening. Additional drawings by four more students as well as eight parents put a happy smile on their faces as they took home a gift certificate to various eateries and businesses in the Price/Helper area.
The emphasis of the entire evening illustrated to everyone that attending college is possible, practical, and promising, always a thumbs-up winner.
