News

GEAR UP Student Spotlight

GEAR UP Alumni Spotlight: Peyton Cline
May 14, 2025

Peyton Cline always knew that she was going to attend college.

GEAR UP, Front page
STEAM Expo at Swain County Middle School

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. 

GEAR UP, Front page
College Adviser Meets Students Where They Are

College Adviser Meets Students Where They Are
Apr 9, 2025

On September 24, 2024, Hurricane Helene made landfall in Ashe County, North Carolina. 

College Advising Corps, Front page
Family Design Night Photo Montage

Evolution of the STEM Based Family Design Nights
Mar 17, 2023

All systems go. T-minus 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, ignition 2, 1. We have liftoff on the Appalachian State GEAR UP Partnership’s Family Design Night.

GEAR UP
Christian Covington- Avery & Williams Acad Adviser

College Advising Reflection
Feb 10, 2023

Growing up homeschooled, I hadn’t thought much about college; I had always assumed I would go to school somewhere and probably major in history.

College Advising Corps
Western Rural Teacher Leader Network Announcement

Western Rural Teacher Leader Network Announcement
Feb 1, 2023

The Rural Teacher Leadership Network (RTLN), is designed to bring together diverse groups of educa

GEAR UP, Front page
GEAR UP & Participate Learning Join Partnership to Focus on Western NC Schools

GEAR UP & Participate Learning Join Partnership to Focus on Western NC Schools
Jan 17, 2023

A new partnership between GEAR UP and Participate Learning seeks to join forces with 10 western North Carolina school districts to help promote college and career readiness...

GEAR UP
Baylee Smith, Ashe Adviser

Behind the Scenes of First Generation
Jan 9, 2023

Growing up, I knew nothing about college. My mom and dad had me soon after they graduated high school. My dad attended trade school and still is a truck driver.

College Advising Corps, Front page
Rachel Nelson

Perspective | North Carolina schools are anything but ‘low-performing’
Dec 16, 2022

Over the past three months, our team from the Empowering Teacher Learning (ETL) project at Appalachian State University has been traversing western North Carolina and engaging...

Empowering Teacher Learning, Front page
GEAR UP Hosts Out of This World Family Design Night

GEAR UP Hosts Out of This World Family Design Night
Dec 12, 2022

The GEAR UP Academic Innovation Team led by Doug Thompso

GEAR UP
Swain County GEAR UP Students Tour App State

Swain County GEAR UP Fall College Tour
Nov 23, 2022

Earlier this month, 24 high school seniors from Swain County High School embarked on a statewide college tour led by ...

GEAR UP
Ashley Bingman, Adviser Mitchell HS

Creating Your Own Path
Nov 18, 2022

Coming from a family history of virtually no one having pursued postsecondary education, I felt a desire to get a headstart on my college career.

College Advising Corps
Peyton Johnson

Mental Health and College Access
Nov 11, 2022

During my undergraduate degree, I studied psychology.

College Advising Corps