[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 165 (Tuesday, November 1, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1974-E1975]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   RECOGNIZING NATIONAL GEAR UP WEEK

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. CHAKA FATTAH

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 1, 2011

  Mr. FATTAH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the great GEAR UP 
Week celebrations that occurred across the country last week. GEAR UP, 
the Nation's most successful early college awareness and readiness 
program, is now in its twelfth year. I ask my colleagues to join me in 
recognizing all of the great program staff, students, families and 
organizational partners who have helped to make GEAR UP the success it 
is today.
  GEAR UP Week was celebrated with great fanfare last week as students 
and communities recommitted themselves to higher education and greater 
opportunity. In West Virginia, the governor and first lady honored 
students individually, and the program read a proclamation from the 
governor. In Connecticut, they held a celebration rally. In North 
Carolina, they read a proclamation from the governor, had a Family 
College Night and held a writing workshop. In Puerto Rico, students 
posted on a Dreams Wall and in Deep South Texas they hosted a press 
conference and celebration with alumni and my good friend and GEAR UP 
champion Congressman Hinojosa. In American Samoa, they made 
commemorative YouTube videos about their programs and the opportunities 
available to students. Just over the DC border, in Prince George's 
County, Maryland, they hosted parent workshops and sent an oversized 
``thank you'' to their representatives in the Congress. In Arizona, 
they reached out to their Congressional delegation as did Laramie 
County, Wyoming GEAR UP students. In Virginia, the GEAR UP staff 
reached out to local media to share their success and schools hosted 
assemblies. In California, the students thanked their Members of 
Congress for supporting GEAR UP and the program brought the story of 
college-going to the radio. Roswell GEAR UP in eastern New Mexico 
spread the word about their programs and publically thanked their 
partners. In Chicago, 14 former GEAR UP students shared their 
experience in transitioning to college, the partnership hosted a 
college fair and teachers participated in a Young Adult Literacy 
Conference. In Nevada the governor proclaimed GEAR UP Week. Wisconsin 
GEAR UP students visited college campuses and attended workshops. 
Mansfield hosted ``GEAR UP Family Orientation Night,'' and in Eastern 
Michigan GEAR UP hosted a ``Legacy of Success.'' Shasta County 
Partnership and UC Davis Partnership in California hosted a GEAR UP 
celebration with community leaders, educators, public officials and 
business partners. Oregon engaged more than 1,000 people online in 
support of GEAR UP and Texas GEAR UP hosted a statewide essay contest 
and pep rallies at GEAR UP high schools. Palomar College GEAR UP read

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proclamations from school boards, city mayors, Members of Congress, and 
state legislators and in Maine they read a proclamation from the 
governor.
  I want to thank all of the people who worked to make GEAR UP Week a 
success and everyone who strives to see that college is more than a 
dream for our Nation's young people.

                          ____________________