{"id":50286,"date":"2016-09-20T15:12:20","date_gmt":"2016-09-21T01:12:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=50286"},"modified":"2019-02-15T14:05:58","modified_gmt":"2019-02-16T00:05:58","slug":"hawaii-celebrates-success-of-college-access-program-that-serves-more-than-20000-students","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2016\/09\/20\/hawaii-celebrates-success-of-college-access-program-that-serves-more-than-20000-students\/","title":{"rendered":"Hawai\u02bbi celebrates success of college access program that serves more than 20,000 students"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
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High school students spoke with legislators on September 19 about the impact of GEAR UP<\/abbr>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Students from Kaimuki, Nānākuli, Waiʻanae<\/span> and Waipahu High Schools spoke to the Hawaiʻi<\/span> State Legislature about the college access program GEAR UP<\/a><\/abbr> and the impact it has had on their success in high school and aspirations for college. Hawaiʻi<\/span> celebrates the success of its GEAR UP<\/abbr> programs as part of National GEAR UP Week, September 19–23.<\/p>\n

There are three GEAR UP<\/abbr> programs in Hawaiʻi<\/span>–GEAR UP<\/abbr> Hawaiʻi<\/span>, GEAR UP<\/abbr> Waipahu and Holomua GEAR UP<\/abbr>. The statewide grant, under Hawaiʻi<\/span> P–20 Partnerships for Education<\/a>, works with students in grades 7 through first year in college. One of its major initiatives is to increase financial aid awareness and FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) completions for low-income students and families. Research shows that FAFSA completion is strongly associated with postsecondary enrollment. <\/p>\n

The GEAR UP<\/abbr> programs have been critical in leading education reform efforts to help reach the state’s goal of 55 percent of working age adults holding a two- or four- year college degree by 2025<\/a>. <\/p>\n

“National GEAR UP<\/abbr> Week is a time to highlight the achievements of these programs as well as programs across the country,” says Karen Lee<\/strong>, executive director of Hawaiʻi<\/span> P–20 Partnerships for Education. “To be part of a national effort committed to expanding college access opportunities to build up our future workforce is something worth celebrating.”<\/p>\n

For more about the three Hawaiʻi<\/span> GEAR UP<\/abbr> programs, read the news release<\/a> or go to the program website<\/a>.<\/p>\n

More about the national GEAR UP<\/abbr> program<\/h2>\n

GEAR UP<\/abbr> (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) is a college access program funded by the U.S. Department of Education<\/a>. Since its inception in 1999, GEAR UP<\/abbr> has improved educational outcomes for millions of low-income students across the United States. <\/p>\n

Related 糖心视频<\/abbr> News video<\/h2>\n