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Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs

If you’re a student, parent, guardian, or educator, GEAR UPCT is your partner in preparing for college and career success. Funded by the U.S. Department of Education, GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) empowers local students to think beyond what they see today.

Through GEAR UP CT, we provide the tools, resources, and support to help students—starting as early as middle school—build the skills and confidence needed to succeed in education and beyond.

Currently, GEAR UP CT proudly serves the Class of 2025 graduates from East Hartford High School and the Connecticut IB Academy (CIBA) who are enrolled CT State Community Colleges and Connecticut State Colleges &University.

GEAR UP is...

A partnership program between Connecticut State Colleges& Universities (CSCU) & CT State Community College- Manchester.

These students are now in their seventh year of the GEARUP grant cycle, and the program continues to support them in their postsecondary journey; providing guidance, resources, and opportunities to help them succeed in college and beyond.

Our goal is simple: to increase the number of students prepared for and ready to succeed in college!

SERVICES & PROGRAMS

GEAR UP CT offers programming to help students succeed in their postsecondary success journey, providing the tools, guidance, and support needed to thrive in college and beyond.

• Academic Support Services
•  Financial Literacy & College Advising
• Social-Emotional Support
• College & Career Exposure Activities
• Rigorous Course Preparation
• First-Year College Support
• Scholarships

GEAR UP CT - East Hartford “Young Men Mentoring Program”

The GEAR UP CT-East Hartford Mentoring Program/Job Shadow Event offered the opportunity to student mentees on Thursday, March 28, 2024, to visit onsite with their mentors at Dilligence Training in East Hartford. As part of the college & career learning through GEAR UP, students met with Dilligence Training owners and staff to learn more about becoming an athletic trainer and running a business as an entrepreneur. They learn through GEAR UP how to connect careers to postsecondary awareness through the CSCU/CT State system. GEAR UP CT elevates the work and supports many state initiatives through local programming for students with male mentoring being an important area to keep young men of color in school, on-track to graduate and achieving their dreams.

Business owners Devonte Dillion and Terrell Huff grew up together, went to school together and now are business owners who manage and operate Dilligence Training ("DT") in East Hartford. GU young men participate in the "Male Mentoring Program" through Dilligence Training under GEAR UP CT-East Hartford. Mentees and Mentors meet twice a week afterschool to offer an environment for young male students of color to connect with leaders and coaches alike. Through this mentoring program students have learned how to build positive relationships with adults and peers, be accountable for their actions, and incorporate respectful behaviors. Through this mentoring program, the young men in GEAR UP are learning to lead lives filled with leadership, empowerment, advocacy and to remain resilient through difficulties they often face in/out of school. Dilligence Training has created opportunities for the GEAR UP students to learn about living a healthy lifestyle through eating healthy and how to create a wellness plan that supports them in developing social emotional connections. During the site visit, GEAR UP mentees learned about standard operations with opening the facility each day, overseeing personal training sessions, marketing/video operations, and learned how to make healthy protein shakes in the Vita Lab.

During the career awareness visit, GEAR UP students met with East Hartford Mayor Connor Martin; GEAR UP CT Project Director Christina Lapierre; Harry Amadasum, Jr. East Hartford Town Councilor; John Morrison, East Hartford Town Councilor; and spoke on camera to Nkwa Asonye of WFSB - Channel 3 Eyewitness News.  

To learn more about Dilligence Training: www.Dilligencetraining.com
Darchelle Hutchins, GU EH Local Program Coordinator; Lesley Mara, AVP Systemwide Initiatives and Sponsored Programs • Academic & Student Affairs; Marisol Salaman, GU CT Fiscal Manager; Jennifer Allen, GEAR UP Wtby Grant Compliance Officer; Michael Savage, GU EH CCR Coordinator
What a team at the April 20 media event at Platt High School in Meriden, CT:    Scott Burrell, NBA Champion; Christina Lapierre, State Program Director for GEAR UP CT; Fatima Islam, GEARUP student; Alice Pritchard from CSCU, and NCAA and WNBA Champion Morgan Tuck.

What a team at the April 19 media event at Platt High School in Meriden, CT:    Scott Burrell, NBA Champion;Christina Lapierre, State Program Director for GearUP CT; Fatima Islam, GEARUP student; Alice Pritchard from CSCU, and NCAA and WNBA Champion Morgan Tuck.

SCHOLARSHIPS

As a GEAR UP CT participant, you are eligible for a GEAR UPCT Scholarship in addition to other outside scholarships you may receive. Scholarship opportunities are available to students who successfully complete the GEAR UP CT program and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

GEAR UP CT also helps students explore and apply for local, national, and sponsored scholarships that align with their individual goals and financial needs.

Participation in the scholarship program requires that both students and parents complete all GEAR UP consent forms, allowing students to take part in the GEAR UP CT program operating in East Hartford, Meriden, and Waterbury.

Stay tuned for the
GEAR UP CT PSAT Bootcamp!

Stay tuned for the
GEAR UP CT PSAT Bootcamp!

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