GEAR UP/College Day

The  federal GEAR UP grant program is designed to increase the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in post secondary education. GEAR UP provides six-year grants to states and partnerships to provide services at high-poverty middle and high schools. GEAR UP grantees serve an entire cohort of students beginning no later than the seventh grade and follow the cohort through high school. To participate all students must have signed pledge forms on file. GEAR UP funds are also used to provide college scholarships to low-income students.  The EduGuide: Partnership for Learning provides another avenue for scholarships.

NMU's GEAR UP grant is also supported by the King Chavez Parks Initiative's
College   Day Program. Together these grants help to support the students at Gwinn High School and North Star Academy School. 

Students at these targeted schools have visits from college students who teach them success strategies, visit NMU's campus and have access to tutors and other support activities/events. These students   are also eligible to attend a week-long summer camp which will teach them about leadership, citizenship, careers and college.

GEAR-UP is a King Chavez Parks Initiative of the State of Michigan

NMU GEAR UP College Tour

Tentative dates: April 4-9, 2009
During high school Spring Break

This year, NMU GEAR UP is taking a step in a new direction. We will be hosting our first college tour! The college tour will be FREE to all students.

The GEAR UP College Tour is visiting colleges and universities across the Upper Peninsula beginning at Northern Michigan University. During the tour we will be visiting Bay Community College, Gogebic Community College, Michigan Tech University, Finlandia University and Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community College.

Space is limited to 16 students. Please complete and return your application as soon as possible. Slots will be filled on a first come first serve basis. Applications can be printed from the College Tour Link above or picked up at 3001 Hedgcock on NMU campus, Gwinn High School or North Star Academy.

MI Tuition Graph

Education Income Correlation

Student Financial Aid Checklist

GEAR UP/College Day Summer Leadership Camp - June 2008

While on campus these mostly 9th - 10th grade students learned about making sound choices by participating in the Extreme Reality simulation, tried out some new yoga poses, hiked to the top of Sugarloaf, faced the challenge of the climbing wall, and learned to work together as a team to achieve their goals.  As it turns out, many of the teens are also budding actors as shown by the skills they employed during their Youth and the Arts activity when Treasure Lee King coaxed even the shyest of campers on stage.