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
October Family Design Night

October Family Design Night
Nov 4, 2022

Nearly 100 families from Ashe, Burke, Swain, Wilkes, and Yancey County participated in a recent GEAR UP Family Design Night. 

GEAR UP
EPFP GEAR UP Cohort 2022-23

EPFP GEAR UP Cohort 2022-23
Oct 26, 2022

The Educational Policy Fellowship Program (EPFP) is a national program coordinated by the 

GEAR UP
Ashe College & Career Day

Ashe College & Career Day
Oct 25, 2022

Multiple college access professionals in the High Country worked together this month to create and produce a successful event at Ashe County High School (ACHS). 

College Advising Corps, GEAR UP
Yannia Nordelo

Upward Bound Celebrates 50 Years! Part Five
Oct 21, 2022

In this series, we will spotlight Upward Bound students, staff, and partners as we celebrate 50 years of the program at Appalachian State University.

Upward Bound
GEAR UP students learn about the patient care simulators at TCCC.

Healthcare Showcase at Tri-County Community College
Oct 19, 2022

Tri-County Community College recently welcomed GEAR UP students from Robbinsville High School and Hayesville Middle School to le

GEAR UP
Brenda Valdez

A Full Circle Moment
Sep 23, 2022

I grew up a Latina in a predominantly white community. Like many other people of color, I faced daily struggles due to the identities I held.

College Advising Corps
Wilkes County GEAR UP staff members pose with Cool Speak motivational speaker, Joaquin Zihuatanejo. (L-R:  Kathryn Wright, Jody Freeman, Joaquin Zihuatanejo, April Marr, Kyla Kerr, and Brie Jarvis.)

Wilkes County GEAR UP Program Hosts Award-Winning Speaker
Sep 23, 2022

Today’s post was written by the Wilkes County GEAR UP team of coordinators: Kathryn Wright, Jody Freeman, Brie Jarvis, and Kyla Kerr.

GEAR UP
College Access Partnerships

Additional Funds Awarded to College Access Partnerships Grant Programs
Sep 14, 2022

Upward Bound and College Advising Corps recently received additional grant funding extending the duration of the programs.

College Advising Corps, Upward Bound
Alex Rangel

How Advising Guided Me
Sep 9, 2022

I attended the orientation for my master’s program last week.

College Advising Corps
Dr. Tracy Smith leads an activity focused on community resilience at Cane River MS with GEAR UP students

Mapping for Resiliency
Aug 5, 2022

Last fall, Appalachian GEAR UP identified ten faculty members from colleges across the region to participate in the inaugural cohort of the Teaching For Community

GEAR UP