[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 134 (Tuesday, September 22, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2332-E2333]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        CELEBRATING GEAR UP DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. CHAKA FATTAH

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 22, 2009

  Mr. FATTAH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the ambitious 
and important work being performed every day by students, program 
staff, parents and teachers to ensure that college dreams become 
reality for students attending high poverty schools. In particular, I 
would like to join with GEAR UP programs across the country who 
celebrated GEAR UP Day on September 18, 2009.
  In order to meet the challenge posed by President Obama that ``by 
2020, America will once again have the highest proportion of college 
graduates in the world,'' we will need to draw students from 
communities where high school graduation, let alone college attendance, 
is the exception rather than the rule. This ambitious goal, and the 
global competitiveness that comes with it, will require a dramatic 
increase in college attendance for students who are the first in their 
families to pursue higher education.
  I want to thank the GEAR UP programs who organized these events and 
the elected officials who participated:
  In Fairmont, West Virginia, they hosted a reception to thank the 
faculty and staff and to highlight the successes of GEAR UP while the 
Governor declared a West Virginia GEAR UP Day.
  In Cleveland, the program received a proclamation from the Governor 
of Ohio.
  In Eau Claire, Wisconsin, the Governor proclaimed September 18, 2009 
as GEAR UP Day and the program celebrated with a community outreach 
event.
  In Iowa City, a GEAR UP principal gave remarks and received 
proclamations from the Governor and Mayor.
  In Wilburton and McAlester, Oklahoma, they received a proclamation 
from the Governor.
  In Pago Pago, American Samoa, the program received a gubernatorial 
proclamation and Valasi Lam Yuen was recognized as their Teacher of the 
Year.
  In Portland, Maine, the GEAR UP site also received a gubernatorial 
proclamation.
  In La Grande, Oregon, the mayor officially proclaimed September 18, 
2009 GEAR UP Day.
  In Waco, Texas, parents, students, faculty and staff were on hand to 
receive a proclamation from the Mayor.
  In New York City they held a National GEAR UP Day breakfast at the 
partner middle school for parents, students, teachers, and 
administrators. The middle school scholars sent an oversized thank you 
card to the Honorable Senator Charles Schumer. The Mayor of New York 
City, Michael R. Bloomberg has proclaimed September 18, 2009 as 
National GEAR UP Day.
  In Tucson, the Mayor proclaimed GEAR UP Day and students are creating 
a GEAR UP Wall of Dreams.
  In San Marcos, California, GEAR UP received a proclamation from the 
city.
  In Kalamazoo, Michigan, they had an all-school assembly which 
included the Superintendent and Michigan State Representative Robert 
Jones.
  In Cincinnati, students signed promise cards and invited the Mayor 
and grant partners to participate.

[[Page E2333]]

  In Baltimore, students, staff and administrators celebrated GEAR UP 
Day on Friday and will continue their recognition on October 1, 2009.
  In Bangor, Michigan, they had an all school assembly at Bangor High 
School which included a speaker on career opportunities after high 
school.
  In Boone, North Carolina, GEAR UP leaders visited high schools to 
talk about GEAR UP and preparing for college.
  In Brooklyn, students participated in the 
9/11 Day of Service.
  In Columbia, South Carolina, they recognized all the wonderful 
teachers, staff members, tutors, and volunteers who work with their 
GEAR UP students with an ``Energy Breakfast'' and by giving out thank 
you notes with Life Savers candy to let these people know they are GEAR 
UP's life savers.
  In Columbus County, North Carolina, students and program staff will 
be celebrating GEAR UP Day this week and will be creating a GEAR UP 
Wall of Dreams.
  In Edinburg, Texas, the GEAR UP site held a press conference to talk 
about the program, including a video message from Congressman Hinojosa.
  In El Paso, Texas, over 3200 GEAR UP students visited the UTEP Don 
Haskins Special Events Center for the GEAR UP Day Motivating Aspiring 
Scholars.
  In Harrison County, West Virginia, they had daily announcements about 
GEAR UP and had every 10th and 11th grade student write their goals for 
the future on a strip of paper. The strips of paper have been linked 
together into a chain to display in the commons area.
  In Jamaica, NY, the grantees hosted a round table discussion and 
invited Congresswoman Maloney, Mayor Bloomberg and Councilman Peter 
Vallone.
  In Lancaster, Pennsylvania, announcements were made every day last 
week with facts about college. To continue the celebration, I will be 
visiting this GEAR UP site next week.
  In Lincoln City, Oregon, students participated in sessions on college 
preparation, overcoming obstacles to higher education, and college and 
career planning.
  In Long Island, students participated in the 9/11 Day of Service.
  In Lowell, Massachusetts, they received proclamations from 
Congresswoman Nicola S. Tsongas as well as Mayor Edward C. Caulfield in 
recognition of the National GEAR UP Day. The proclamations were read to 
students on Friday in an assembly. In addition, parents of GEAR UP 
students prepared and served breakfast to teachers and students to 
commemorate the 10th year anniversary of GEAR UP.
  In Vista, California, the City issued a proclamation.
  North Hollywood, CA hosted a bagels and college awareness meeting 
with teachers, parents and students at GEAR UP schools.
  In Passaic, New Jersey student graduates presented to the New Jersey 
Commission on Higher Education.
  In Philadelphia, they recognized and awarded certificates to the 
current 8th grade students in cohort schools. GEAR UP students received 
an award certificate, a GEAR UP Banner to display prominently in their 
schools, and a check in the amount of $3000 to assist with offsetting 
costs for student support.
  In Ponce, Puerto Rico, GEAR UP program staff displayed street banners 
on the university campus and at participating schools. They also 
coordinated a television presentation with students to urge their 
classmates and students in general to stay in school and plan their 
postsecondary studies.
  In Reno, current high school and college students (GEAR UP alumni) 
are being recognized today at a rally.
  In Sacramento, they organized a presentation to the Superintendent, 
student presentations and campus tours.
  In San Francisco, they celebrated with an address from principals, 
student workshops and an ice cream social.
  In Santa Ana, California, GEAR UP conducted outreach and students 
pledged their commitment to college on cards.
  In Syracuse, New York, students participated in the 9/11 Day of 
Service.
  In Yakima, Washington they held an open house, college fair and 
reception.
  In Yonkers, New York, administrators issued a ``call to action'' to 
the partner schools by requesting teachers and administrators engage 
students in developing a personal learning plan, help students locate 
various colleges on a map, teachers and administrators wear their 
college sweatshirts/t-shirts, talk about college, start a college dream 
journal with students, take pictures of all activities, and above all 
make it fun.
  In Albany they hosted a GEAR UP Awareness Day in which the GEAR UP 
students shared their experiences with the program during the 
announcements. Program information and progress will be placed on tents 
and set on each table in the cafeteria. Stewarts Ice Cream was provided 
during lunch periods.
  In Jefferson, New York, students and parents visited college 
campuses.
  In Helena, Montana, they celebrated GEAR UP Day during their annual 
fall conference.
  I am proud of all that GEAR UP has done, and will continue to do, to 
improve life for families and build a stronger, more competitive 
nation. I encourage my colleagues to join me in this celebration.

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