GEAR UP Alumni Spotlight: Brenda Palacios Rodriguez
Jun 30, 2025
Brenda Palacios Rodriguez never envisioned herself attending college. “I felt like I personally wasn't worthy of it,” she said, reflecting on...
Interactive McDowell Technical Community College Visit Welcomes GEAR UP Students to Campus
Jun 26, 2025
What do you get when you cross a slushie machine, Play-Doh, and a gourmet homemade lunch? You get a 6th grade McDowell Technical Community College vis...
CAP Through our Eyes: Wes Calbreath
Jun 23, 2025
In this series, we feature individual CAP staff members and dive into their unique perspectives on college access, education, the role of our grant pr...
Academic Innovation In Action
Jun 20, 2025
On Tuesday, June 10 and Wednesday, June 11, 180 educators, administrators, and partners convened at the Reich College of Education at Appalachian Stat...
GEAR UP Alumni Spotlight: Peyton Cline
May 14, 2025
Peyton Cline always knew that she was going to attend college.Growing up in a family of die-hard Duke fans that prioritized her education, Peyton was ...
2025 Swain County STEAM Expo
Apr 28, 2025
On Thursday, April 24, the STEAM Expo took place at Swain Middle School for the second year in a row. This event exposed students to different id...
College Adviser Meets Students Where They Are
Apr 9, 2025
On September 24, 2024, Hurricane Helene made landfall in Ashe County, North Carolina. The devastation following the storm left many families in r...
Making Meaning in the Wake of Helene
Mar 26, 2025
In September 2024, western North Carolina experienced what has been described as a once-in-a-100 (to some once-in-1000) year storm. Hurricane Helene h...
GEAR UP Campus Visits Across North Carolina
Mar 14, 2025
One of the cornerstones of the Appalachian GEAR UP Program is campus visits. Research has shown that when students take trips to college campuses, esp...
CAP Through our Eyes: Matthew Medlin
Jan 31, 2025
In this series, we feature individual CAP staff members and dive into their unique perspectives on college access, education, the role of our grant pr...