LOGAN, W.Va. — Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College has received a $50,000 award from West Virginia GEAR UP to expand college and career readiness opportunities for students in four counties.
The funding will support students in Boone, Lincoln, Logan and Mingo counties who attend nine participating high schools.
West Virginia GEAR UP, administered by the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission, provides resources and experiences designed to help students prepare for education and training after high school.
Services can include college visits, career exploration, ACT and SAT preparation, tutoring, mentoring, financial aid and college-planning workshops, summer academies and other activities. The program also provides college-planning resources for families and professional development for educators.
Students in the classes of 2027 and 2028 at eligible schools will participate as GEAR UP cohort students. Services begin in seventh grade and continue through the students’ first year of college.
“Southern is proud to partner with West Virginia GEAR UP to help students across our region see college and career opportunities as possibilities within their reach,” said Elizabeth A. Manuel, interim president of Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College.
Manuel said the funding will allow Southern to connect with students earlier, provide college-going experiences and help students and families understand postsecondary options.
Jason Luyster, senior director of student affairs at the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission and director of West Virginia GEAR UP, said Southern’s participation will help students explore college and career opportunities.
“Through this GEAR UP funding, Southern will help create meaningful college and career readiness experiences that allow students to see themselves on a campus, explore new opportunities, and expand their understanding of what college can mean for their future,” Luyster said.
Southern is one of three West Virginia colleges providing staff and resources for the statewide GEAR UP initiative, along with Glenville State University and Marshall University.
The current West Virginia GEAR UP grant provides services to students in 11 counties, supporting them from middle school through their transition to postsecondary education.
Southern will use its participation in the program to continue working with area schools and provide opportunities for students to experience college, explore career pathways and prepare for life after high school.
To learn more about West Virginia GEAR UP, visit www.wvgearup.org.
