NYGEAR UP - 2010 Annual Conference Highlights
The 2010 Annual NYGEAR UP Conference was everything we expected and more. Many attendees remarked that each session was geared towards a topic of interest and reflected the sign of the times. Each and every one of you who contributed by attending, presenting, moderating, or collaborating were the reason for its overwhelming appeal.
I want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Director of the Teacher and Student Development Service and the State Program Officer, Mr. James Davis for his attendance and presentation during lunch. He shared with all grantee attendees that a new competition was imminent. The opportunities the upcoming application will provide are as follows: potential for a 7-year application which will allow for tracking the cohort through their first year of college, State applicants will be given priority but no additional points, all grantees will be required to adhere to the new HEOA regulations, and the new HEOA guidelines have some additional components which the federal application may include and given these changes it is best not to just copy the previous application. As James shared his wisdom, knowledge, and understanding with the New York GEAR UP grantees; we are poised to prepare thoughtful and competitive applications.
A special thanks to Faith Graham, Infinity Performing Arts Jazz Ensemble, and Jamestown Community College President, Mr. Gregory T. DeCinque. The NYGEAR UP conference was made more special by your participation. The Jazz Ensemble played like seasoned professionals despite their youthful ages (14-21). Mr DeCinque delivered a brief, but poignant "call to the audience of college access professionals to give community colleges a chance" to change the world and educate our future. I would be remiss if I did not mention the tremendous support and help that Faith Graham, GEAR UP Coordinator at the Jamestown Community College lent to the coordination and facilitation of the annual conference.
The NYGEAR UP community extends its gratitude to the College Board and especially, Matthew Zarro, Educational Manager, K-12 Services, for conducting all sessions, "The New College Ed", "Official SAT Online Program and Skills Insight", "SAT" (student session) and the pre-conference session on "ACCUPLACER"; solo. He moderated "Five Down and One To Go" with Paul Turner, Director, Office Secondary Programs, SUNY Cobleskill. Matthew is a team player extraordinaire and we thank him and the College Board for hosting a reception.
The luncheon speaker, Chappale Linn Burton, President, Monday Smiles LLC, delivered an inspiring presentation to the young people in attendance and to those who work with them to help them achieve their goals. He charged the students with the responsibility of "getting what you want" out of life and to give yourself high expectations in receiving your goal. An example was his question to the students, "Who wants a copy of my book?" and only one young lady went directly to the stage and took the book from Mr. Burton. A perfect example of "getting what you want."
The student awardees who are listed below received a plaque and several gifts from NYGEAR UP state partners the Association of Proprietary Colleges, the City University of New York (member schools: Brooklyn College, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, and Hunter College), the College Board, the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities, the New York State Financial Aid Administrators Association, and the State University of New York. We also want to thank Upromise for their continued support of the GEAR UP mission and NYGEAR UP. It is always a pleasure to recognize when young people are doing well in school and in their communities.
Congratulations to the SUNY Cobleskill-St. Johnsville Central Schools Honorable Mention Awardees: Charlie Nugent, Ben Bergen, Dylan Stephens, Ethan Lynch, Matt Pavlus, Derek Nugent, Joey Rider.
Thank you one and all, GEAR UP grantees (Federal and State), James Davis, Chappale, Dr. Pogue, presenters, moderators, and HESC for all that you did, will do, and have done for GEAR UP and for making Conference 2010 a tremendous success. Until next year!
See you in Washington DC, July 2010. Support your GEAR UP partners who will be presenting in this national forum:
- July 19, 2010: The Ultimate Summer Experience (residential summer programs) - Ms. Yvette Morgan - 10:45 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (noon)
- July 19, 2010: Accessing One Student At A Time - Panel - Mr. Paul Turner, Ms. Yvette Morgan, and Ms. Alice Roberson - 3:30p.m. - 4:45p.m.
- July 20, 2010: The College Board & NYGEAR UP: The New York State Model - Mr. Matthew Zarro, Ms. Alice Roberson, Mr. Paul Turner - 2:00 -3:15 p.m.
- Date and time TBD: The College Board - Preparing All Students for Success - Mr. Matthew Zarro
2010 NYGEAR UP Student Awardees |
|---|
Student Awardee | School | GEAR UP Project Site |
| Amani Franklin | Albany High School | Albany City School District |
| Sarina Hefferman | Albany High School | Albany City School District |
| Bairon Guerrero | Academy of Environmental Leadership | CUNY Brooklyn College |
| Stevenson Catul | Academy of Urban Planning | CUNY Brooklyn College |
| Sarah Moser | Jamestown High School | Jamestown Community College |
| Chelsea Tuggle | Dunkirk High School | Jamestown Community College |
| Mustafa Alkobadi | Science Skills Center High School | Long Island University/Brooklyn |
| Capriaty Alexandre | New Rochelle High School | City School District of New Rochelle |
| Sharleyne Munoz | New Rochelle High School | City School District of New Rochelle |
| Rayquana Wright | East High School | Rochester Institute of Technology |
| Octavia Rhim | Bioscience and Health Careers High School | Rochester Institute of Tehcnology |
| Sharon Villar | Long Island City High School | St. John's University |
| Oriana Roman | Long Island City High School | St. John's University |
| Nazifa Mahbub |  | St. John's University (Federal) |
| Kyle Thorn | Laurens Central Schools | SUNY Cobleskill |
| Anthony Marmet | Laurens Central Schools | SUNY Cobleskill |
| Eric Hart | St. Johnsville Central High School | SUNY Cobleskill (Federal) |
| Erik Wegener | St. Johnsville Central High School | SUNY Cobleskill (Federal) |
| Jinnah Clark | Institute of Technology at Central High School | Syracuse University |
| Avin Kannadan | Yonkers High School | Yonkers Public School |
| Rene Eberhardt | Riverside High School | Yonkers Public School |
| Charlie Cruz | Riverside High School | Yonkers Public School |
| Stephanie Ventura | East Bronx Academy for the Future | CUNYMGI/GEAR UP |
| Rebecca Gill | East Bronx Academy for the Future | CUNYMGI/GEAR UP |
| Tarikue Manago | Binghamton High School | SUNY Binghamton GEAR UP (Federal) |
| Tausha Bush | Binghamton High School | SUNY Binghamton GEAR UP (Federal) |
