GEAR UP for Grants
Oklahoma GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) has awarded 12 subgrants totaling $152,000 to Oklahoma community- and faith-based organizations to help students and families prepare for college through programs that provide access to financial aid, localized mentoring and tutoring services, college campus tours, individualized counseling and academic planning.
The subgrantees are the Community Action Project of Tulsa County; the Community Service Council of Greater Tulsa; the Greater Oklahoma City Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; St. John Christian Care Center, Oklahoma City; Fellowship of Women in Christ, Ada; Building a Nation Through Village Concepts, Oklahoma City; the Norman Economic Development Coalition; Prospect Missionary Baptist Church, Oklahoma City; Vertical Life Initiatives, Tulsa; the Believers in Boswell Community Coalition; and the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Theta Upsilon Omega Chapter, Lawton. The subgrantees will work with community partners to expand programs and services that help raise college aspirations and encourage student participation in Oklahoma’s Promise.
Oklahoma GEAR UP, a federally funded program administered by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, awarded the grants through the Raising College Aspirations Community- and Faith-Based Organization (CBO) Incentive Grant Program. The main objective for all subgrantees is to facilitate enrollment in Oklahoma’s Promise, a scholarship program that allows high school students from families whose annual income is $50,000 or less and who meet certain academic and conduct requirements to earn free college tuition.
For more information on GEAR UP or Oklahoma’s Promise, visit www.okhighered.org or call 800.858.1840.
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Funny how most of the scholarships, grants and awards are geared toward high school students when there are grown adults who need the financial assistance more. Young people can earn their way the first two years, and then get help. If they stick to the first two years, then by all means, let them earn a scholarship for their grades, community activities, etc. Too many Oklahoman’s are being outsourced, divorced, losing homes, etc. and as they are the bread winners, the ones who pay the bills and usually are more interested in getting an education as opposed to just getting a degree, I say HELP THEM/US OUT. Rarely have I observed a student under 25 who was serious about doing their homework, required reading, required research, and in creating an assignment of any degree of difficulty. Sorry, that is just my personal opinion. Most of the adults in my age range 35-50 are serious about learning and getting their money’s worth of education, not just a piece of paper with the word degree on it. Help adults out too. The kids are young enough to work hard AND go to school. I do it, why can’t they?