Taylor Everhart, center, a senior elementary education major at Appalachian State University, prepares to lead a group of middle school students on a tour of campus. The students from Ashe County Middle School were among 1,350 students from Ashe, Alleghany, Yancey and Burke counties who were on campus Sept. 18 for GEAR UP Day. Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) is designed to accelerate the academic achievement of middle and secondary school students so that increasing numbers will graduate from high school and enroll and succeed in college. It provides early information about college options, required courses, and financial aid; works to increase the participation and success of students in college “gateway” courses such as algebra; provides information to families about the costs of college and the availability of student financial assistance; and provides intensive tutoring, mentoring, and counseling programs that meet students’ needs, among other activities. (Photo by Marie Freeman)

About Appalachian State University

As a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, affordable education for all. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.

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