Local students 'Gear Up' for college

BONNERS FERRY — Gear Up Site Coordinator Jaycee Atkins and High School Guidance Counselor for Juniors and Seniors Jennifer Mackay have a boundless enthusiasm for their students at Bonners Ferry High School. They use Snapchat, Facebook, Instagram and more, to connect with their students, increasing college application enrollment, as well as scholarships gained.

They have even inspired their students to help other fellow high schoolers by coming up with unique programs, including the GO ON Project, which stands for GearUp Opens Opportunities Now. The GO ON project was the brainchild of seniors Mariah Roy and Jorryn Bennett

for their National Honor Society project.

Atkins wanted something that would encourage and reward the students for applying for scholarships. On Sunday she texted Roy and Bennett the idea and the very next day, Roy came into the classroom, full of excitement. “I have so many ideas!” she said.

“She came up with an idea to get seniors to apply for scholarships,” said Roy about Atkins. “The goal is to have every senior apply for one scholarship a week and they will be entered to win either a gift basket or a gift card, just to give them some incentive to apply for scholarships.“

There are many scholarships available, including local ones. If a student applies for one a week, they will have 28 applications by the time it is over. Every month there will be a drawing, choosing three applicants as winners, and they will be awarded gift cards.

“Let’s try to make it fun and reward them for their hard work,” said Atkins.

At the end of the year, when the scholarships are awarded, the names will again be drawn and the winners will be awarded gift baskets, filled with items provided by local businesses, as well as some larger corporations. They are still building those baskets, and businesses are welcome to donate, and will be provided a receipt.

“So when they go off to college, they will have a little bit of a cushion,” explained Atkins, remembering how her family had encouraged her to build a hope chest for college, with items such as a towel, or other supplies that cost much needed money in the lean days of a college student’s life.

The center of the college preparedness plan is a program called Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs, otherwise known as GEAR UP. It is a competitive grant program of the U.S. Department of Education that aids in increasing the number of low-income students preparing to enter a postsecondary education. It providing States and local community-education partnerships in a six-to-seven year grant that offers support to students.

“GEAR UP is an amazing program,” said Atkins. “It’s a federal grant, so we are able to help these kids, and help the school out, in a way that we were never able to do before.”

GEAR UP is a match program, so any grants they give out are required to be matched. While students who are involved from the beginning will receive money, they also stand the chance of being matched by the college as well, doubling the money they could receive toward tuition.

Unfortunately, Idaho is in the seventh year of GEAR UP, which is its final year. The state will need to reapply, and if it is accepted, the school must then reapply as well. Bonners Ferry High School has served as almost a flagship for the program in Idaho, with many teachers from other schools looking to Atkins for advice. According to Atkins, they are the only school in Idaho that actually incorporates GEAR UP in its curriculum, as opposed to making it just a club.

A firm believer in the program, Atkins said, “We want kids to know that it is possible to go to school. Don’t rule out college just because you can’t afford to pay for it. Because it is possible to be able to pay for it.”

Parent Night is Nov. 2, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. in the commons area, featuring colleges from all over the country, banks to talk about loans, as well as specialized schools.

“It’s not just for our students here. We welcome anybody. If there is homeschool parents that want to come in, that is fantastic,” said Atkins. “We will do whatever we can because it is a great opportunity. It’s not very often that Bonners Ferry has something like this.”

Another wonderful opportunity for students and their parents is College Application Week, taking place November 6-10. This is the time when students may apply to Idaho colleges free of charge.

During this week, there will be two nights for parents to ask questions and learn more about Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on Nov. 6 and 9, from 4:30-7 p.m. Parents may pick up their child’s report card and take it to the library where a visitor from North Idaho College will be able to answer all their question about applying for aid.

“I want the parents to know that we are here to answer those questions, as well,” said Atkins. “I am in there and I will be happy to watch children, if I have to, just so parents will come in and ask those questions.”

In the spring, they will be holding a Career Fair, featuring vendors, professionals in a multitude of career fields, the military and more. This will be open to the students during the day, and then open for parents in the evening, offering the families the opportunity to talk directly to professionals in the career paths they may be considering. They are still accepting volunteers to join this project.

The enthusiastic team of Atkins and Mackey have embraced the opportunity to help the young men and women of Bonners Ferry High School find their future, forming lasting bonds as mentors, and genuinely caring for their students.

For more information, visit the Bonners Ferry High School website at: bfhs-bcsd-id.schoolloop.com