Montana GEAR UP

Montana GEAR UP
Office of the Commissioner of
Higher Education
46 North Last Chance Gulch
PO Box 203201
Helena, MT 59620-3201
Phone (406) 444-0056
Fax (406) 444-0425

Dana Richards, GEAR UP Director
444-0317, drichards.montana.edu

Linda Safty, School Grant Manager
444-0848, lsafty@oche.montana.edu

Montana GEAR UP website:
www.gearup.montana.edu

National GEAR UP website:
www.ed.gov/programs/gearup/

Trout Creek is entering its 3rd year as one of 25 schools in Montana's Gear Up (Gainining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs). Our focus is improving student skills and academics, giving our students a greater base fo successfully entering and completing a post-secondary program.

Our students will begin learning earlier about jobs and careers. They will visit various colleges and educational institutions. One of the most exciting parts, they will be eligible to compete for scholarships.

In September, our 8th grade students took part in ACT's EXPLORER program. EXPLORER, is a tool to help students plan for High School. When our students attend High School, as 10th graders, they will participate in PLAN. PLAN is a midpoint review for students. In grades 11/12, students take the ACT test which prepares them for college readiness, admission and placement.

In Trout Creek, 7th & 8th grade students and their parents/guardians, will have the oppertunity to attend Family Fun Night. The evening will include dinner, games and prizes, and a presentation by Clay Henson from MCIS. The students will use computers to access a site on the internet showing different carreers, education needs and saleries.

Other GEAR UP activities include poster and essay contests, college visits and the Science Fair at the U of M in Missoula. Two winners in the essay contest will win a $200 scholarship that will be held in trust for them. In the students' junior year, they will have the oppertunity to apply for and receive a $1000 scholarship. in their senior year, 15 scholarship for $20,000 will be awarded to Montana students.

Liaison Diane Weber, who is a paraprofessional at Trout Creek, will oversee the process. She will coordinate the program that involves students, parents, community, the high schools and the state office.