The month of October proved to be a busy one for Appalachian GEAR UP schools! From preparing students for the FAFSA, to getting families on college campuses, every GEAR UP school was providing valuable services to their communities.
On October 13, GEAR UP Coordinator for Catawba County Schools Holly Ellwanger hosted a GEAR UP Family Night for 7th and 8th graders at Appalachian State University’s Hickory Campus. The event hosted 23 Catawba families and allowed them a chance to spend time on the Hickory campus while learning more about the admissions process.
The admissions team from App State Hickory was present at the event to teach families more about the campus as well as how to begin preparing for that process as middle schoolers. There were also representatives present from App State’s career development team to administer personality type surveys for students. They also brought sample resumes with them and had students and families critique them.
Instead of having a Q&A panel, one former CCS student and current App State Hickory student attended the event and answered questions in a more informal way. While students and families were eating dinner, she circulated around the room and answered questions.
Students and families also participated in a tour of the campus after eating dinner.
“There was a lot of excitement and engagement with the tour,” Holly said. “The students were definitely impressed.”
One student was so taken with the facility, that she asked her tour guide if it would be possible for her to do her homework there.
Engaging students with the campus wasn’t the only goal of the evening. Holly also sought to engage parents or caregivers who may not have had the chance to attend college or finish their degrees.
This was the first of many events Holly is planning on hosting at the App State Hickory Campus.
Alleghany High School also held an event on October 13, hosting a FAFSA family night. Alleghany GEAR UP coordinator, Angela Parlier was present at the event, alongside Assistant Director of College Access Services, Wes Calbreath. Also present at the event was Laura Tellez-Elias, Alleghany’s Advise NC Next Step Adviser. Together, the three of them helped students and their families navigate the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Wrestling practice was also taking place during this event, allowing several of the students on the wrestling team time to come in and fill out the FAFSA with their parents while also enjoying a hard-earned meal, provided by Appalachian GEAR UP.
Later in the month, on October 28, the Appalachian GEAR UP academic team hosted the first Family Design Night event of the year.
These events are hosted virtually by the academic team, while participants attend in person on campus at their local middle schools, high schools, or community colleges. This first event had over 90 people register.
The family design challenge that was tackled this month was the task of building a functional “light house,” that lit up through the implementation of simple circuitry, as well as be able to withstand simulated wind and rain.
At the FDN events, families are also able to share meals together and tour the facility at which their event is held.
To learn about what events will be held in your district in November, reach out to your local GEAR UP Coordinator.
GEAR UP events in October included Family Design Night, Hickory campus Family Night, and FAFSA Family Night
Appalachian GEAR UP hosts multiple events throughout October
Appalachian GEAR UP hosts multiple events throughout October