GEAR UP

Fellows from App State include (left to right) Dr. Dramaine Freeman, Katie Hubbard, Allyson Murphy, Dr. Kate Watson, and Dr. Rachel Askew

Education Policy Fellowship Program 2025-2026 Cohort
Sep 24, 2025

The Public School Forum has announced the newest cohort for the 2025-2026 Education Policy Fellowship Program (EPFP). Five faculty and staff members f...

Polk County Students Participate in Leadership Camp at Isothermal CC

Isothermal GEAR UP Hosts Middle School Leadership Camp
Sep 5, 2025

On July 23rd, Isothermal Community College hosted a one-day leadership camp for rising 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students in Polk County. This GEAR UP c...

Alex Chough, president of the National Council for Community and Education Partnerships (NCCEP), right, presents the 2025 GEAR UP Professional Leader of the Year award to Corinne Smith, director of App State’s GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) and deputy director of College Access Partnerships, during the NCCEP/GEAR UP Annual Conference on July 14 in San Francisco.

App State’s Corinne Smith honored as 2025 national GEAR UP Professional Leader of the Year
Jul 21, 2025

BOONE, N.C. — Corinne Smith, director of Appalachian State University’s GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate...

Student Spotlight

GEAR UP Alumni Spotlight: Bella Powers
Jul 13, 2025

The GEAR UP Guarantee is a guaranteed admissions program to Appalachian State University for students in participating GEAR UP Appalachian programs. I...

Katie Matheson

Former GEAR UP Student Returns as Chaperone
Jul 11, 2025

Katie Matheson, a 2020 graduate of Ashe County High School, remembers vividly the first time she joined a GEAR UP college bus tour as a student. She v...

Student Spotlight

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...

MTCC Campus Visit

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

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 Conference 2025

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 Student Spotlight

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 ...