Celebrating National GEAR UP Week: A Story of Impact
Every September, we join communities across the country to celebrate National GEAR UP Week, a time to recognize the impact of GEAR UP on students and the many people who make the program possible. National GEAR UP Week is an opportunity to:
Celebrate student success: Highlighting stories of students who are excelling academically and pursuing their plans for postsecondary education.
Appreciate grant partners: Honoring the incredible work of teachers, counselors, site coordinators, families, and community organizations who guide students every step of the way.
Raise awareness: Sharing the role GEAR UP plays in expanding access to higher education to all students.
In this post, I want to highlight a former GEAR UP student, who is now serving as a valued member of a grant’s GEAR UP team. As a high school student, Kyron participated in GEAR UP activities that opened doors to new opportunities. Today, he is enrolled in college, works part-time as a data analyst in his university’s GEAR UP office, and serves on the Participatory Evaluation Team. In his role, he helps manage student data through a federally aligned tracking system, supporting the grant’s efforts to monitor student demographics, services, and outcomes. I often tell him that he is a role model to young men who will see him as an example of what’s possible, proof that their hard work and persistence can lead to bright futures. Kyron will be a great mentor, as his journey is a powerful example of what’s possible.
Why This Matters
Stories like this remind us that GEAR UP is not just about preparing students for college, it is about cultivating leaders, mentors, and changemakers. When alumni return as staff or mentors, they bring authenticity and relatability, offering perspectives that resonate deeply with current students. Kyron’s contributions during our evaluation meetings consistently spark thoughtful dialogue. Having walked in students’ shoes, he understands the challenges students face and brings insights that enrich our conversations and help shape strategies to inform or strengthen programming.
GEAR UP is not just about preparing students for college; it is about preparing them for life. The program helps students and families envision futures they might never have imagined, shifts mindsets, expands opportunities, and creates a cycle of support that endures year after year. Former students who return as mentors and professionals embody the lasting impact of GEAR UP and reinforce its mission to transform students’ lives.
This National GEAR UP Week, we celebrate Kyron and all the former students who now dedicate their talents to helping the next generation succeed. Their journeys remind us of the promise of GEAR UP: to elevate students’ experiences, open new possibilities, and create a cycle of opportunity that endures.
At Xcalibur, we are proud to be part of this national movement and deeply grateful to the staff, students, families, and partners who make GEAR UP impactful.
Happy National GEAR UP Week! 🎉
