Early Outreach

GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) is a federally funded (nationwide) initiative aimed at encouraging schools, colleges, universities, and community-based organizations to help students stay in school, study hard, take the right college-prep courses, and have high aspirations to pursue collegiate-level studies. Funding through the Washington State GEAR UP program allows the College Success Foundation to extend early outreach for students attending the 16 Achievers High Schools and feeder middle schools. Through early intervention and building capacity, our College Prep Advisors aim to raise students' awareness and expectations relative to BA attainment. In both the middle schools and high schools, our staff extend outreach through support to the CollegeEd™ program, to increase college awareness and academic planning by promoting a college- going culture for all students.

Don't Worry about college...
just get ready for it!

CollegeEd™ is an innovative college-preparation course designed by the College Board™ to motivate and prepare all students for a college education. The high school edition of CollegeEd™ provides materials for each grade 9-12 (11th and 12th grade versions Available Fall 2006), empower students though grade-appropriate knowledge and information, as well as through self-exploration and skill-building.

You can view the Early Outreach brochure online by clicking here.

The College Success Foundation is committed to providing access to college by providing scholarships and mentoring to low-income, high potential students. Thousands of young adults in Washington State dream of attending college but do not go because they don't have the means to pay for it. Often our youth need additional academic support to help prepare them for college, as well. The HERO Initiative (Higher Education Readiness Opportunity) is designed to increase college readiness for under-represented youth. HERO staff will work with 8th, 9th, and 10th grade students, in the academic middle - B and C students - who have the desire to go to college and the willingness to work hard, but are falling short of their potential.

The HERO Initiative will provide support directly to students, their families, and academic communities, to ensure that they have the resources to help them build their academic and leadership abilities.

The HERO Initiative will provide the following opportunities for participants:

• Academic Advising
• After School Programs
• Leadership Development
• Motivational Speakers
• College Visitation Programs
• Test Preparation (such as WASL, SAT)

You can view more information about the HERO Initiative by clicking here.

Click here to view a video of the 2007 Hero Academy

Click here for images from the 2008 College Bound Scholarship Events

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