GEAR UP holds first statewide event for high school students
October 14, 2025 (Volume 49, Number 4)
The first statewide GEAR UP Kick-Off was held at the Lansing Center in September.
The first statewide GEAR UP Kick-Off to College was held in September at the Lansing Center.
Grand Valley's GEAR UP program works with students at Grand Rapids middle and high schools to offer academic skills and encouragement they need to graduate from high school and then attend a higher education institution.
Bobby Springer, director of GEAR UP, said the September event was a good opportunity for students and an example of the impact of federal GEAR UP funding.
"We welcomed nearly 1,700 students from across the state, with 11 of Michigan’s 15 public institutions showing up to support them," Springer said. "The energy was contagious, from the excitement during roll call to the meaningful connections forged between students, alumni and college representatives."
More than 150 seniors participated in on-site admissions, with many walking away with admission to Grand Valley and several other universities. The event included a GEAR UP alumni panel, during which former students spoke about their journeys to and through college.
"The Kick-Off was a celebration of access, opportunity and the collective investment in Michigan’s young people," Springer said. "It underscored the vital importance of program funding and the partnerships that make it possible for first-generation and low-income students to see themselves in college and to take tangible steps toward that future."
This article was last edited on October 10, 2025 at 9:34 a.m.