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!

Volunteers working in the Feeding Avery Families warehouse

Next Step Adviser Builds Community Through Service

February 2, 2026

As the Avery County Next Step Adviser, Fitz Fitzgerald is responsible for helping students make a plan for life after high school. He guides students in choosing which pathway may be right for them, whether that be college, the military, …

Appalachian GEAR UP Director Elected to NCCEP Board of Directors

January 9, 2026

As the only GEAR UP partnership grant board member, Corinne was elected by her peers to help shape the future of NCCEP while amplifying the mission of GEAR UP nationwide. Board member duties include helping to provide financial oversight including …

New L.E.A.D Cohort Kicks Off at Appalachian State

December 19, 2025

On Saturday, December 6, Appalachian GEAR UP hosted the first L.E.A.D. Gather-Connect for the second cohort of the program. Students from Ashe, Watauga, Burke, and Wilkes counties gathered in the Plemmons Student Union at Appalachian State University to meet one …

A collage of events that took place in November.

A Month in Review: November

December 4, 2025

November was another busy month for the Office of Rural Promise! On November 3, the GEAR UP Campus Visit team held a special family night. Students from Watauga and Ashe traveled to App State’s campus for a campus tour, pizza, and a …

Western NC STEM Fellows pose for a photo

Appalachian GEAR UP and the Society for Science Launch the Western North Carolina Research Fellows Program

December 1, 2025

Appalachian GEAR UP Partnership, housed within the Office of Rural Promise at Appalachian State University, is excited to announce a partnership with the Society for Science to launch the Western North Carolina Research Fellows Program, a first-of-its-kind initiative designed to expand student-lead …

What is the NC Rural Education Collaborative?

November 20, 2025

The NC Rural Education Collaborative is the new state affiliate of the National Rural Education Association (NREA), which serves as “the voice of all rural schools and communities across the United States,” according to its website.

Empowering Teachers at Home and Abroad

November 20, 2025

From August 29th to September 5th, Dr. Rachel Shepherd, Project Director for Empowering Teacher Learning (ETL), and Nancy Mangum, Co-founder of Leading Edge Learning, traveled to Greece to provide professional development for 33 teachers at the historic Athens College. This was …

GEAR UP students walking across App State campus

Mountaineer Expedition Guides Students Through App State Admissions

November 19, 2025

On November 7th, GEAR UP students from Ashe County High School, Watauga High School, Alleghany High School, and Wilkes Central High School traveled to Appalachian State University for a special admissions-focused Mountaineer Expedition. This visit was a collaboration between several …

Advise NC at App State and Office of Rural Promise Staff Present the Listening Tour

Advise NC at Appalachian State Helps High School Seniors Take Their Next Steps

November 7, 2025

The midway mark of the fall semester has come and gone, bringing thousands of students across the state to a critical point in their senior year of high school. Senior year brings with it a multitude of additional tasks as students and …

Appalachian GEAR UP hosts multiple events throughout October

A Month in Review: October

November 3, 2025

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 …

Ashe County High School Countdown to College Event Hosted by Advise NC Next Step Adviser, Lorena Calvillo

Ashe County High School “Counts Down” to College

November 3, 2025

On Tuesday, October 14, Ashe County High School participated in College for North Carolina’s “Countdown to College Week” with an event planned and organized by Ashe County’s Advise NC Next Step Adviser, Lorena Calvillo. Present at the event were Ashe County GEAR UP Coordinator, …

RTLN Participants Engage in Professional Development Session

NC Public School Forum Launches Second RTLN West Cohort

October 28, 2025

The North Carolina Public School Forum’s Dudley Flood Center for Educational Equity and Opportunity, in collaboration with Leading EDge Learning and the Appalachian State GEAR UP Partnership, is proud to announce the launch of the second cohort of the Rural Leaders Teacher Network …

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