News

Do you have an idea for a news story? We are always looking for new content to include in our newsletter and on our news webpage, and we welcome your input. If you’ve seen ORP programs in action and would like to share and showcase story ideas with us, email Elyssee Gibson and we will work together to spread the good news!

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

September 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 from Appalachian State University including two Office of Rural Promise (ORP) staff members are among the participants, and …

Polk County Students Participate in Leadership Camp at Isothermal CC

Isothermal GEAR UP Hosts Middle School Leadership Camp

September 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 camp was organized by the Dean of Teaching and Learning Support Administration, Dr. Kelly Lovelace. Dr. Lovelace …

Upward Bound Students Participate in Summer Academy

Upward Bound Summer Academy Offers Students a Taste of College

July 23, 2025

The 2025 Upward Bound Summer Academy has officially kicked off and is in full swing. Described as a “mock college experience” by Academic Coordinator Jessica Dale and Director Aaron Gersonde, the summer academy is a 6-week residential program that gives …

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

July 21, 2025

Corinne Smith, director of App State’s Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs, was recognized with the 2025 GEAR UP Professional Leader of the Year award for her passion for and commitment to GEAR UP’s goal of ensuring college …

GEAR UP Alumni Spotlight: Bella Powers

July 13, 2025

The GEAR UP Guarantee is a guaranteed admissions program to Appalachian State University for students in participating GEAR UP Appalachian programs. If students can maintain a minimum weighted GPA of a 3.25 and meet all the other UNC system requirements …

Katie during her campus tours as a student (right) and as a chaperone (left)

Former GEAR UP Student Returns as Chaperone

July 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 visited UNC Greensboro, NC State and UNC Chapel Hill alongside her classmates.This was …

YES Day Camp Sparks Creativity and Connection for WNC Students

July 8, 2025

From June 16th through 27th, the Young Eisner Scholar (YES) Day Camp welcomed two cohorts of rising 7th and 8th graders from Ashe and Watauga Counties at the Ashe campus of Wilkes Community College. Far from a typical summer camp …

GEAR UP Alumni Spotlight: Brenda Palacios Rodriguez

June 30, 2025

Brenda Palacios Rodriguez never envisioned herself attending college. “I felt like I personally wasn’t worthy of it,” she said, reflecting on how she felt about college before getting involved with GEAR UP. As a first-generation student from an immigrant family, …

Interactive McDowell Technical Community College Visit Welcomes GEAR UP Students to Campus

June 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 visit, of course! On Wednesday, June 4, McDowell County 6th graders visited the campus of McDowell …

CAP Through our Eyes: Wes Calbreath

June 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 programs in the community, and more. This month, we highlight Wes Calbreath, Assistant Director of College …

Academic Innovation In Action

June 20, 2025

On Tuesday, June 10 and Wednesday, June 11, 180 educators, administrators, and partners convened at the Reich College of Education at Appalachian State University for the 2025 GEAR UP Academic Innovation Conference, organized by Rachel Nave-Lewis and the AIC conference …

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 primed for postsecondary school from the jump. When GEAR UP was introduced to Peyton …

Latest Newsletters

Our email newsletter is sent quarterly and includes highlights and accomplishments of our Office of Rural Promise programs. To receive our newsletters, please complete the newsletter sign-up form.