Mansfield Senior honored for program aimed at college preparations and readiness
In years past, too many Mansfield Senior students didn't have a plan for life after graduation.
That is all changing under a program called GEAR UP, which recently brought national recognition to the high school. The acronym stands for Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs.
Mansfield Senior is one of 23 schools across the country, and the only one in Ohio, honored by the American College Application Campaign as a 2022 School of Excellence.
ACAC is a national effort to increase the number of first-generation college students and students from low-income families pursuing a college degree or other higher education credential.
ACAC describes the award winners as a "group of exemplary schools."
"There could not be a more critical time for us all to support students and educators, and the remarkable reach of this year's application campaign demonstrates the value and strength of these collaborations," ACAC Director Lisa King said. "As students continue to recover from the effects of the pandemic, we must do all we can to remove the barriers they tell us they have to accessing the education opportunities that are right for them."
Mansfield Senior is one of six schools in Ohio that received a grant for GEAR UP. The program started a year ago under site coordinator Effie James.
"We provide services and initiatives to prepare students to go to college," he said.
Those services include college field trips, help with financial-aid applications and ACT boot camps. Mansfield Senior also had a college fair in March that featured more than 25 college recruiters.
"We do a lot of things to prepare our students to get to college and to succeed in college," James said. "Our goal is to create a college-going culture."
Site coordinator credits advisers for program's success
Advisers Ailayshia Williams and Malon Samuel do the hands-on work.
"I am extremely proud of our two advisers," James said. "I'm the administrative paper-pusher. They do the work.
"I think they have done an awesome job. We had to introduce ourselves to the school."
A banner on one of the walls in the high school has been signed by seniors who have committed to a college.
J-Lynn Brooks is a senior who plans to attend Ohio State University to study social work. She credited Williams for her advice.
"She was kind of the one who got me into GEAR UP," Brooks said. "She has helped me in my personal life and school life."
Brooks hadn't really thought much about college before GEAR UP.
"I'm in a health-tech program (at Mansfield Senior), so I was thinking about going to work after school, but Ailayshia changed my mind," she said.
Khanaas Toddie hopes to attend Central State University near Dayton and major in criminal justice. His goal is to be a coroner.
"Back in 11th grade, thinking about college was hard," Toddie said. "I didn't have any guidance before they opened GEAR UP."
Camariah Bullock has chosen Ohio State University at Mansfield for higher education. She is a self-confessed animal lover.
"After high school, I want to be a vet tech or a zoologist," Bullock said.
James said GEAR UP is driven by data. The initial goal was for the advisers to meet with all seniors. James was happy to report that Brooks and Samuel have met with everyone in the Class of 2023 at least once.
Far more Mansfield Senior students applying for financial aid
One reason why Mansfield Senior's GEAR UP program earned national recognition is the dramatic turnaround in students who applied for financial aid.
That number was only 13%, but it has increased to 32% in the last year.
"We had one of the biggest turnarounds in the state," James said, adding his goal is 80%.
And it is only the beginning. The GEAR UP grant lasts for seven years.
"We're excited about what can come in the future," James said.
mcaudill@gannett.com
419-521-7219
Twitter: @MNJCaudill
This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Mansfield Senior High School's GEAR UP program earns recognition
