Cal State Fullerton is celebrating the 25th anniversary of Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs, a federal grant program that supports low-income students in preparing for and succeeding in higher education.
National GEAR UP Week, Sept. 22-26, showcased the program’s success helping participants and alumni achieve their college and career goals over the past decades. CSUF’s five partnered school sites within the Fullerton, Anaheim and Buena Park School Districts hosted activities and workshops designed to inspire participants to pursue higher education. The week also highlighted the importance of federally funded college access programs like GEAR UP and other TRIO initiatives.
The year-round program brings high school students to college campuses to experience summer coursework and offers monthly workshops, leadership training, tutoring and advising to build strong study habits as a foundation for students to transition to college.
The ultimate goal of GEAR UP is to increase student success while developing sustainable practices that benefit students across these partnerships.This semester, CSUF GEAR UP serves two cohorts of students from its partner schools — the classes of 2027 and 2029.
CSUF’s GEAR UP director Martha Contreras said the week highlights how these programs support our communities and transform families through education.
“It’s an opportunity to engage our partners, our students, our families and alumni across the country who have benefited from programs like GEAR UP,” Contreras said.
During the week’s events, alumni from across the country shared their experiences in higher education. CSUF’s GEAR UP assistant director Alejandra Huerta, said her experience as a program alumna shapes how she supports students in her role.
“Having that experience for myself and our team makes our work more purposeful because we have that lived experience that some of our students may be experiencing themselves,” Huerta said. “We’re able to intentionally support them and also intentionally provide them with the resources and services we have.”