Come next spring, Grand Valley State University’s Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) will wave goodbye to the class of 2012 – the first to complete the GEAR UP program since the first grant was written five years ago as an extension of the already established, state-funded College Day program.

GEAR UP brings students from Central High School, Creston High School, Ottawa Hills High School and Union High School to spend a week on GVSU’s campus learning what it takes to be prepared for college. GEAR UP operates on campus for two weeks, each week dedicated to two of the four schools enrolled.

As the associate director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs and program coordinator for the GEAR UP/College Day program at GVSU, Bobby Springer says he knows how tough it is for most students to go to college.

“If you’re not ready,” Springer said, “the chances for success are not going to be great…we share with them that it really boils down to how hard they want to work. The harder you work, the more opportunities you have later in life. “

Springer said though College Day was a good start, the addition of GEAR UP – funded by a federal grant of $28,520 – allows Springer and his team to zero in on the class of 2012 to have a more long-lasting impact on the Grand Rapids Public School district.

Though low-income schools were targeted during the recruiting process, Springer said there are no particular eligibility requirements for students in the GEAR UP program other than simply being a member of the class of 2012.

Jawan Jennings, an entering senior at Creston High School, has been consistently engaged with GEAR UP since he was in seventh grade. Back then, Jennings said he wasn’t even thinking about college.

“Without GEAR UP I don’t think I’d even be thinking about college right now, and I wouldn’t have the opportunities I have to visit colleges and get experience and know what I need to get into college,” Jennings said. “It’s really helpful for getting ready.”

Now, Jennings hopes to eventually wind up at either Davenport or Western Michigan University, and wants to go into business management so he can open up a couple stores – possibly some barbershops downtown – and give back to the Grand Rapids community.

“I think it’s really kept us all on the straight path and given us something to look forward to,” Jennings said. “A lot of my friends, they don’t really look toward college, and ever since the GEAR UP came around they’re given hope of going to college. GEAR UP helps us and gives us confidence, something to motivate us toward college.”

Springer said he focuses education on four key areas throughout the week – scholarships, grants, loans and work study as well as what to expect on the ACT. Students visit other West Michigan area colleges, talk to admissions professors and learn about financial aid options.

“They don’t come from a lot of households were mom and dad have gone to college,” Springer said. “Some kids parents didn’t even graduate from high school, they’ll be the first ones going to college. So giving them that exposure to what this is all about, that’s what GEAR UP is all about.”

Andrei Nichols, a guest speaker that works with GEAR UP said it’s important for these students to understand college as a necessity.

“I want them to understand that you’re going to have to expand your knowledge base after high school if you want to be competitive in this global society,” Nichols said. “There is no way in the world that you can survive and compete if you’re not looking to increase your knowledge base.”

Nichols, the creator of an independent consulting firm that does presentations for students, as well as professional development for staff and workshops for parents, said for students from small towns, exposure to higher education isn’t always easy. And as a native of Baldwin, Mich. and a former College Day coordinator at Ferris University, he would know.

“They really don’t know about the world outside of that place,” Nichols said. “So it’s important for someone who has been where they are to come back to that place and say ‘I understand what you’re going through. I’ve been where you’re at and I’m going to let you know there are some things you can do so that you can be mindful of opportunities outside of here.’”

Springer said the state of Michigan is already working on another grant that would allow the GEAR UP program to continue for the class of 2017. This time, the grant would follow students not only to their graduation date, but through their first year of college as well. And with their first swing out of the way, Springer said he and the rest of the GEAR UP program can look past logistics and focus on what matters.

“You have to learn the school system, you have to work with the teachers in each grade, you have to do that early on,” he said. “But going into this second time we already know those things, so we can really focus in on the academic part because we need for the students – no matter what their background is – we need them to put their best foot forward because that’s what it’s going to take to be successful with this.”

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