August 10, 2026 • 10:35 am | GEAR UP
Students from Catawba County Schools participated in the GEAR UP Entrepreneurship Camp from July 27–30, where they spent four days exploring entrepreneurship, career pathways, and higher education opportunities. Throughout the week, students gained firsthand insight...
August 4, 2026 • 3:36 pm | GEAR UP
On Saturday, July 18, the top eight L.E.A.D Scholars struck off to Washington, D.C. to participate in GEAR UP’s National Youth Leadership Summit. The scholars who participated included: Dreydon Conley, Graham County Julianna Underwood, Burke County Amie...
July 22, 2026 • 4:04 pm | GEAR UP
Anne Belk Hall on Appalachian State University is usually full of college students studying history, anthropology, and government. However this year, during the week of July 13th, things looked and sounded a little different… GEAR UP Appalachian’s annual Camp...
June 22, 2026 • 4:35 pm | GEAR UP
From Monday, June 8 to Wednesday, June 10, over 200 educators, administrators, and partners convened at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, in Asheville, NC, for the 2026 GEAR UP Academic Innovation Conference. This event was organized by Rachel Nave-Lewis...
May 13, 2026 • 8:55 am | GEAR UP, Office News
Perspective | ‘Right where they belong’ begins in middle...
April 21, 2026 • 5:14 pm | Advise NC, GEAR UP
Two Freedom High School seniors will attend Appalachian State University in the fall on a four-year, full cost scholarship. The two seniors, Jacorian Logan and Nathaniel Surratt, are childhood best friends who “do everything together,” according to Burke County...
January 9, 2026 • 11:55 am | GEAR UP
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 budget approval;...
December 19, 2025 • 1:16 pm | GEAR UP
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...
December 4, 2025 • 2:23 pm | GEAR UP
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 Q&A with a panel of financial...
December 1, 2025 • 10:13 am | GEAR UP
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...
November 19, 2025 • 2:33 pm | GEAR UP
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...
November 3, 2025 • 1:53 pm | GEAR UP
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 13, GEAR UP Coordinator...
October 28, 2025 • 3:05 pm | GEAR UP
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...
September 24, 2025 • 2:06 pm | GEAR UP
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,...
September 5, 2025 • 9:43 am | GEAR UP
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....
