[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 134 (Thursday, September 18, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Page S5859]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             GEAR UP HAWAII

 Ms. HIRONO. Mr. President, I rise today to celebrate the 
successes of Hawaii's Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for 
Undergraduate Programs, GEAR UP. Next Monday, September 22 marks the 
beginning of National GEAR UP Week.
  GEAR UP is a national program that provides grants for States to help 
low-income students with college preparation, enrollment, and 
completion.
  In 2011, the U.S. Department of Education awarded the University of 
Hawaii a 7-year GEAR-UP grant to improve college access and completion 
for low-income students. The P-20 Partnerships for Education manages 
this grant with its partners, the State Department of Education, the UH 
ten-campus system, and other public, nonprofit, and private entities.
  Hawaii GEAR UP is helping reach the goal of having 55 percent of 
working age adults hold a 2- or 4-year degree by 2025. In shorthand, 
``55 by `25.'' To reach this goal, GEAR UP Hawaii runs many programs to 
help low-income middle school and high school students focus on 
academic preparation, explore Early College options, learn more 
information about college access and financial aid, and improve college 
enrollment and completion.
  In January of 2014, I had the chance to meet GEAR UP Hawaii students 
at Waipahu High School. The school's Early College High School program 
helps students earn college credit while still in high school.
  One of the students I met was Juanito Moises, National GEAR UP Youth 
of the Year. He came to Hawaii from the Philipines at age 9, not 
speaking English. He took rigorous courses and eventually earned a 3.98 
high school GPA. He will be the first in his family to attend a 4-year 
college, and thanks to GEAR UP he will already have English 100 out of 
the way.
  Juanito is just one of the thousands of low-income students in Hawaii 
and nationwide who GEAR UP is working to serve. The program's results 
show that GEAR UP students are more likely to complete rigorous 
coursework, apply and enroll in college, and earn college degrees, when 
compared with other low-income students who do not have the opportunity 
to participate.
  Since I first came to the House in 2007, I have supported Federal 
funding for GEAR UP program, and I urge my colleagues in the Senate to 
do the same.
  During National GEAR UP Week, let's celebrate GEAR UP's success and 
continue our efforts to help Hawaii students enter and complete 
college.

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