The University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa recently helped secure a $8.3 million grant for its Oʻahu program, a partnership aiming to boost college readiness.

This particular grant from the U.S. Department of Education will help about 1,600 seventh graders from four middle schools: Dole, Kalākaua, Wahiawā and Waipahu Intermediate.

“We visualize the support we provide to students in three key areas—Bridges, Backpacks and Beliefs,” said Edmond Lee, director at Gear UP Oʻahu. “Bridges: provide learning and advancement opportunities. Backpacks: supplies and essentials to help them on their journey. Beliefs: building mindsets and persistence to be successful in their chosen pathway.”

GEAR UP Oʻahu provides support to students for seven years from middle school through their first year of college. By offering a range of free resources, the program’s goal is to equip students with foundational skills and support to succeed academically.

Resources include:

• peer mentorship
• Early College credits
• career exploration
• college application assistance
• summer sessions
• college campus visits

GEAR UP alumni, cycle of support

GEAR UP graduates who are now in college return to mentor younger students. Many of the current mentors attended Waipahu, Leilehua, and Hilo High Schools, and bring with them first-hand experience that helps them relate to the program’s new generation of students.

The newly awarded grant is just one of 24, out of 118 national GEAR UP applicants. The Oʻahu-based program is a collaboration of 13 programs and offices at UH Mānoa, seven target schools and 10 educational and community partners.

U.S. Sen. Mazie K. Hirono visited the in November to meet with students, faculty and staff, and learn more about programs offered there to support underrepresented students, including Native Hawaiians.

Hirono began her hour-long visit at the , where UH West Oʻahu students and graduates shared how they benefited from various federal grant programs such as the U.S. Department of Education’s Early College Program funding through the Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) and Title III, including the (health and wellness facilities and programs that integrate Native Hawaiian values of well-being) and projects at UH West Oʻahu.

“I enjoyed the chance to meet with students on the beautiful UH West Oʻahu campus to hear about what they’re learning and how federal grants are helping many of them attend college,” Hirono said in a news release. “Many of these students are the first in their families to attend college, and with support from federal funding, UH West Oʻahu is helping them to expand their horizons and reach their full potential.”

Among the students who met with Hirono was Kyree Follante-Makekau, a freshman majoring in public administration with a concentration in justice administration. Follante-Makekau, who is Native Hawaiian and Asian, shared that federal programs have helped her explore and expand her educational options.

“These programs really helped me…grow, within a span from a senior (in high school) to freshman year at college,” she said.

UH West Oʻahu alumna Hōkū Kwan, who currently serves as the Title III Wailau Ola Pathway project director thanked Hirono for her continued support.

“We are products of the good work that can be done,” Kwan said. “So mahalo nui for supporting our students, staff and faculty here at UH West Oʻahu because without your support, we wouldn‘t be able to provide this quality education for our students.”

Read more in .
—By Zenaida Serrano Arvman

will be hosting a series of webinars to help thousands of island families prepare for college as part of the National GEAR UP Week 2022, starting September 26.

GEAR UP �鶹��ý has successfully helped tens of thousands of �鶹��ý’s low-income middle and high school students to enter and succeed in higher education for more than 20 years.

GEAR UP is funded by the and administered in �鶹��ý by UH through . Since its inception in 1999, GEAR UP has improved educational outcomes for millions of low-income students across the U.S.

To commemorate the week, several webinars will be held:

• Monday, September 26—College Planning 101
• Tuesday, September 27—Difference between 2-year colleges and 4-year universities
• Wednesday, September 28—How to Pay for College
• Thursday, September 29—Finding Scholarships

.

Each year, GEAR UP �鶹��ý serves more than 10,000 low-income students statewide in grades seven through 12 and through their first year in college at UH campuses. Through a partnership with the and the UH System, as well as, government, nonprofit and private sectors, GEAR UP �鶹��ýprovides information, encouragement, support, resources and services to help eliminate achievement gaps among groups traditionally underrepresented in higher education.

“National GEAR UP Week is a time to highlight the accomplishments of our program, as well as provide additional support for students and families,” said Angela Jackson, GEAR UP program director and associate director of �鶹��ý P-20 Partnerships for Education. “To be part of a national effort which inspires hopes and dreams that college is possible is something worth celebrating.”

The and , together with community partners, will once again offer the program, to support �鶹��ý’s class of 2021 public high school seniors. Next Steps to Your Future will engage and guide graduating seniors in transitioning to their post-high school plans while connecting them to postsecondary education and training opportunities. Eligible students will also have an opportunity to take free summer career exploration classes from UH Community Colleges.

“As the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to challenge �鶹��ý‘s high school seniors in their final year, we are committed to providing the support they need to achieve their potential on their paths to better futures for themselves and our islands,” said UH President David Lassner.

Every student who opts in will be connected to an experienced UH �鶹��ý Advising Cadre member who will provide free personalized support and information to guide them in their next steps whether they plan to enroll in college, enter the military or workforce, or are still undecided. Support will consist of specialized text messages, access to relevant resources and one-on-one support from a dedicated advisor for eight weeks in summer 2021.

Eligible students will also be sponsored to participate in free UH Community Colleges summer career exploration courses. These courses will help students explore their career options, plan future steps and develop skills to be successful in college so they can focus on their goals.

Next Steps Class of 2021 participants will also be eligible for a Next Steps Scholarship to attend a UH campus in fall 2021.

“Our graduating seniors have spent the majority of their final year learning from home,” said Stephen Schatz, executive director for �鶹��ý P–20. “We will provide these students with one-on-one personalized advising and counseling support over the summer so they can successfully and seamlessly transition to their post high school plans.”

“We are excited to once again offer free summer Career Exploration classes to help our recent high school graduates develop plans and take the next steps toward their goals,” said UH Vice President for Community Colleges Erika Lacro. “These classes are an opportunity for students to develop plans for their future, become familiar with our community colleges across the state and get a head start on college classes in the fall.”

More on Next Steps

The program launched in summer 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic with a vision to provide class of 2020 graduates with the advising and support to plan for their futures. More than 2,100 students participated in the Next Steps program, which included summer advising, UH Community Colleges classes or both. Twenty advisors served more than 1,100 class of 2020 graduates via text, email and one-on-one Zoom virtual sessions. In addition, more than 1,400 graduates took online UH Community Colleges classes choosing from 121 classes offered by seven campuses. In addition, 370 Next Steps students were awarded Next Steps Stronger Together Scholarship funded by �鶹��ý Community Foundation and First Hawaiian Bank Foundation with an average award of $6,200.

The program has delivered promising results in increasing college enrollment rates for Class of 2020. Graduates who participated in the Next Steps program (texting, classes or both) had a 77.5% college enrollment rate vs. 44.3% for graduates who didn’t participate in the program. In addition, economically disadvantaged graduates who were part of the Next Steps program also enrolled in college at a higher rate than those who did not participate in the program—69.5% compared to 32.5%.

Class of 2020 data also showed that more Next Steps participants enrolled at an UH institution versus non-Next Steps participants: 66.4% of Next Steps participants enrolled at a UH campus in fall 2020 vs. 23.7% for those that didnʻt participate in the Next Steps program.

Next Steps to Your Future 2021 is generously supported by Harold K. L. Castle Foundation, the Stupski Foundation, GEAR UP �鶹��ý and federal CARES funding awarded to UH. Next Steps Scholarships are funded with support from Chenter Foundation, UH Alumni Association, and other UH Foundation donors.

To sign up for free summer advising, go to or text “nextsteps” to (808) 437-2719 by May 30. To sign up for free UH Community Colleges career exploration classes, go to .

The University of �鶹��ý was awarded $2.3 million by the to help increase the number of low-income and first-generation middle and high school students in the Windward Oʻahu community in postsecondary education.

The Soar Higher grant will support activities to build college and career aspirations, increase academic readiness, and provide support to students in navigating their educational journey. The grant aims to help eliminate achievement gaps among groups traditionally underrepresented in higher education.

The grant builds upon the success of , a statewide grant from the U.S. Department of Education to improve access to and success in higher education at high-poverty middle and high schools statewide. GEAR UP �鶹��ý has been serving �鶹��ý’s low-income youth since 2000, impacting an estimated 35,000-plus students statewide.

“We are committed to working with partners to advance educational equity in the Windward Oʻahu community,” said Stephen Schatz, executive director of . “This is going to be a team effort, and we will focus on students who need help the most.”

“We know the best path to household stability runs through a two- or four-year degree. But it’s still far too difficult for young people to get to and through college. We hope this four-year investment will double the number of public school graduates in Windward Oʻahu that earn a degree or certificate,” said Alex Harris, vice president for programs at Harold K.L. Castle Foundation.

Reaching new heights

Under the Soar Higher grant, the Windward community will utilize a coordinated, regional grades “6–16” approach to provide students with developmentally appropriate support to help them successfully complete high school, then enroll and persist in college. Windward area high schools will work with their feeder middle schools and to develop and implement a vertically-aligned, comprehensive college and career program that will provide counseling and support for students to explore career interests, improve their academic preparation, engage in work-based learning opportunities, and ultimately transition successfully through the 6–16 pipeline to eventually attain their career goals.

“Our goal is to empower our students with the knowledge and skills they need to create their own post-secondary plan,” said Bernie Tyrell, principal of Castle High School. “We are grateful for the generous support of the Harold K.L. Castle Foundation to continue this work that we have started in building career pathways, and we will use these funds to support the implementation of our plans so that our students can succeed after high school.”

“Through Soar Higher, Harold K.L. Castle Foundation has brought us together to support our ʻopio, this next generation, to achieve their career goals through education. This not only leverages the strengths of our Koʻolau communities, where we all work together to create better tomorrows for our children, but also grows the dreams of our children, which are the dreams of what we will become as communities,” said Windward CC Chancellor Ardis Eschenberg.

The University of �鶹��ý was awarded more than $39 million in federal grants to help increase the number of low-income middle and high school students statewide who succeed in college through GEAR UP, the from the U.S. Department of Education.

The federal GEAR UP program provides seven-year, matching grants to states and partnerships for services that improve access to and success in higher education at high-poverty middle and high schools statewide. GEAR UP in �鶹��ý has been serving �鶹��ý’s low-income youth since 2000, impacting an estimated 30,000-plus students, and the latest round of funding is expected to help nearly 25,000 more students over the next seven years. This is the largest amount of money that the GEAR UP program in �鶹��ý has received.

“We are absolutely delighted that the federal government recognizes our effectiveness and success over the past 18 years and has committed to continue this significant investment in advancing educational equity in �鶹��ý,” said UH President . “We really appreciate the opportunity to dramatically elevate educational attainment across the state, with a special focus on students who need help the most.”

In addition to the state GEAR UP grant, UH received two partnership GEAR UP grants to work with students in specific communities on Oʻahu, Maui and �鶹��ý island. The first, for $6.7 million administered through UH Mānoa, is for students at Wahiawā Middle and Leilehua High; Waipahu Intermediate and Waipahu High and Hilo Intermediate and Hilo High. A second grant, $3.5 million administered through UH Maui College, is for students for Kalama Intermediate, King Kekaulike High; Maui Waena Intermediate and Maui High.

“This funding will allow GEAR UP programs to continue across the state, enabling thousands more public school students to benefit from programs that encourage high school completion, provide tuition assistance for dual-credit programs so students can earn college credit while still in high school, inform students about the college application process and how to apply for federal financial assistance, and facilitate the transition between high school and college,” said U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono, who has been a great supporter of the program.

Previous GEAR UP grants

The first GEAR UP �鶹��ý state grant (2000–2005) recruited about 6,000 8th grade students from low-income public middle schools to become GEAR UP Scholars. It established college preparation clubs, provided information about higher education and awarded college scholarships to qualified participants.

The second and third state grants (2005–2011, 2011—2018) expanded GEAR UP Scholars statewide to become Step Up Scholars, which included more than 13,000, mostly low-income students and encouraged participants to take rigorous high school classes, apply for college and financial aid and develop college and career transition skills.

In addition, the third state grant, in a partnership with Harold K.L. Castle Foundation, piloted the successful Early College program, bringing college courses to thousands of high school students statewide.

“We are seeing a culture shift with more students motivated and supported to go to college as barriers to post secondary education are no longer an issue thanks to programs supported through GEAR UP,” said �鶹��ý State Department of Education Superintendent Christina Kishimoto. “For our communities to thrive, we will need more of our graduates succeeding in college—by 2020, 70 percent of jobs in �鶹��ý will require it.”

�鶹��ý P–20 leads

serves as the lead for the GEAR UP �鶹��ý state grant, which was awarded $28.8 million over seven years.

“GEAR UP funds have provided resources for successful programs such as Early College and other academic readiness initiatives,” said Stephen Schatz, �鶹��ý P–20 executive director. “This is a team effort between the �鶹��ý State Department of Education, the University of �鶹��ý, and many community and business partners. We are all working together to ensure that students everywhere in this state have access to higher education.”

The new state grant will expand on the work that is already underway. “Our vision is to continue to support middle and high schools with programs that enable students to complete high school, navigate the college application and financing process, enroll in college without the need for remediation and be prepared for living-wage careers,” said Angela Jackson, GEAR UP �鶹��ý Project Director of �鶹��ý P–20. “It will also focus on creating stronger career pathway alignment, developing a counseling model for middle school through college and improving financial literacy programs to support low-income students to prepare for and succeed in college.”

The was honored as GEAR UP Community Partner of the Year at the seventh annual GEAR UP Leadership Awards in Washington, D.C. Nominated by , the (NCCEP) awarded the Castle Foundation for its outstanding support and commitment to numerous initiatives that prepare �鶹��ý’s low-income students for college and career success.

“The Castle Foundation has been an invaluable partner in raising student achievement and moving �鶹��ý closer to our 55 by ’25 education goal,” says Stephen Schatz, �鶹��ý P–20 executive director. “�鶹��ý P–20 is incredibly thankful for the collaboration with our GEAR UP �鶹��ý program to improve access for thousands of students statewide. They are very deserving of this year’s NCCEP award.”

�鶹��ý P–20 Partnerships for Education is a statewide partnership led by the , the �鶹��ý State and the University of �鶹��ý.

More than 14,000 students statewide in grades 7 through first year in college are provided information, support, resources and services through GEAR UP �鶹��ý, a statewide college access grant under �鶹��ý P–20 Partnerships for Education. The grant is designed to reduce gaps among student populations who are traditionally underrepresented in higher education.

“At no time in our state’s history has it been more important for our youth to attain a postsecondary degree or credential,” says Alex Harris, Castle Foundation strategic advisor. “Doing so opens doors and increases opportunities. We are honored to partner with �鶹��ý P–20 to extend the benefits of the federal GEAR UP grant to �鶹��ý’s students. This award reflects the success of hard work by countless teachers, administrators and students.”

Preparing �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ��’s students for success

The Castle Foundation supports high school graduation and college access initiatives by investing in a diverse range of programs that successfully reach thousands of students across the state’s K–12 and postsecondary education pipeline. Over the years, its support of public education initiatives has been highly impactful.

The foundation’s investment in �鶹��ý P–20’s Early College High School program helped mobilize the Early College movement, which enables students to earn both college and high school credit simultaneously. In addition, the Castle Foundation supported GEAR UP �鶹��ý’s efforts to make college more affordable by supporting the “Cash for College Challenge” to activate low-income schools to encourage more students to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Most recently, recognizing that access to strong counseling and advising in high school can be pivotal for low-income students’ success, the Castle Foundation is supporting an innovative College and Career Guidance program to create a pipeline of assistance for students from middle school through college.

Molokaʻi and McKinley High Schools won first place for having the highest percentage of students complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in ’s Cash for College Challenge. A total of 73 percent of students in the senior class at Molokaʻi High School and 63 percent at McKinley High School completed the FAFSA.The application, which helps students and families identify their financial aid eligibility, is required if applying for federal student grants, work-study or loans.

Of the remaining schools, ʻAiea and Kohala High Schools were recognized for increasing the percentage of FAFSA completions over the previous year.

Molokaʻi High School had the highest percentage of seniors completing the FAFSA among all participating schools, which is currently the highest in the state and 23 percentage points over the statewide average. The school also increased their FAFSA completions by 14.5 percentage points over last year.

“One of the strategies that worked best for us is the individual follow up we were able to do with our students,” says Mahina Kamakana-Juario, Molokaʻi High School college and career counselor. “I think we may have pestered them a bit too much reminding them everyday to complete the FAFSA, but that’s what it took to get the results we did.”

FAFSA, college enrollment and completion

FAFSA completion is strongly associated with postsecondary enrollment. According to a recent study, 90 percent of high school seniors who complete the FAFSA attend college directly from high school, compared to just 55 percent of students who do not complete the FAFSA. Also, FAFSA completion is strongly associated with college completion: 52 percent of FAFSA filers complete a bachelor’s degree within six years of enrollment, compared to just 44 percent of students who do not complete it.

“Each year, millions of free federal grants dollars are left unclaimed in �鶹��ý,” says Stephen Schatz, �鶹��ý P–20 executive director. “This aid could have helped more of our �鶹��ý’s students attend college including the University of �鶹��ý. We need to do everything we can to help make college more affordable for students and families and helping them complete the FAFSA is one way to do this.”

“A postsecondary degree or certificate is the great equalizer,” says Alex Harris, Harold K.L. Castle Foundation strategic advisor. “Financial cost can be a major barrier, but this doesn’t have to be the case. Students win when high schools make the financial aid process easier. The Harold K.L. Castle Foundation commends the winners of the Cash for College Challenge for taking this important step towards helping so many become college graduates.”

This year, fifteen schools participated in the Cash for College challenge, which is supported by the Harold K.L. Castle Foundation. Schools with the highest FAFSA completion rates as well as the largest increase in FAFSA completions over the previous year were awarded cash prizes ranging from $1000 to $1200 that could be used to support senior class activities such as high school graduation, prom and end-of-year events.

Schools awarded

Closest to 100 percent FAFSA Completion:

• Molokaʻi High School: 73 percent
• McKinley High School: 63 percent
• Kailua High School: 57 percent
• ʻAiea High School: 55 percent
• Leilehua High School: 53 percent

Greatest Increase in FAFSA Completion from 2017:

• Molokaʻi High School: +14.5 percentage points
• ʻAiea High School: +9.2 percentage points
• McKinley High School: +8.1 percentage points
• Kohala High School: +7 percentage points
• Waiʻanae High School: +4.6 percentage points
• Nānākuli High and Intermediate: +2.2 percentage points

This is the second year of the Cash for College challenge. The contest was open to all eligible high schools (schools with a 50 percent or higher, free or reduced lunch status) statewide. Results are based on data from Federal Student Aid as of March 17, 2018.

The recently awarded the a $2.7 million federal partnership grant that will help more than 500 students prepare for and succeed in postsecondary education in the Waiʻanae Coast area. The grant is the college’s second consecutive, multi-year GEAR UP partnership grant award.

GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs), is a federally-funded grant program that is one of the largest and most effective programs focused on increasing the college and career readiness of low-income and underserved students in communities nationwide.

The seven-year grant supports a collaborative effort of public institutions and community partners that will provide academic readiness and college access services to students in participating schools on the Waiʻanae Coast. Students will receive tutoring, career guidance, comprehensive college advising, financial literacy, dual-credit course opportunities and mentoring from the seventh grade through their first year of college. Services are anticipated to begin in spring 2018 for the Class of 2023 cohort.

UH West Oʻahu previously obtained a GEAR UP grant in 2011 named on the Leeward Coast, to increase the number of students from the economically depressed Waiʻanae Coast who will be prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education. The Holomua: GEAR UP grant helped provide service to more than 600 students from Nānākuli High and Intermediate School, Waiʻanae Intermediate, and Waiʻanae High School. Its results included:

• A record 20 valedictorians were among the 414 Holomua GEAR UP students who received their diplomas from Waiʻanae High School in May 2017. The students were at the top of their class, with grade point averages pushed above 4.0 by taking college courses.
• Holomua: GEAR UP initiated a partnership between Waiʻanae High School Searider Productions and UH West Oʻahu to create a seamless pathway from high school through UH West Oʻahu and into the workforce. The pathway was implemented in summer 2017 to increase student success and leverage existing resources to help sustain the early college initiative.
• UH West Oʻahu conducted summer bridge programs to help ease students into college life for graduates of Nānākuli High and Intermediate School and Waiʻanae High School.
• The Holomua: GEAR UP cohort from Waiʻanae High School and Nānākuli High and Intermediate School had an increase in enrollment to UH West Oʻahu. The enrollment rate from both high schools doubled in fall 2017 semester from Fall 2016.

UH West Oʻahu will administer the new grant in partnership with the State of �鶹��ý Department of Education Nānākuli-Waiʻanae Complex Area, Waiʻanae Intermediate School (grades 7–8), Waiʻanae High School (grades 9–12), Nānākuli High and Intermediate School (grades 7–12), Kamehameha Schools, DimensionU, Hawaiian Community Assets, Bank of �鶹��ý and partnering community colleges.

—By Leila Wai Shimokawa

Students from Kaimuki, Nānākuli, Waiʻanae and Waipahu High Schools spoke to the �鶹��ý State Legislature about the college access program GEAR UP and the impact it has had on their success in high school and aspirations for college. �鶹��ý celebrates the success of its GEAR UP programs as part of National GEAR UP Week, September 19–23.

There are three GEAR UP programs in �鶹��ý–GEAR UP �鶹��ý, GEAR UP Waipahu and Holomua GEAR UP. The statewide grant, under , works with students in grades 7 through first year in college. One of its major initiatives is to increase financial aid awareness and FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) completions for low-income students and families. Research shows that FAFSA completion is strongly associated with postsecondary enrollment.

The GEAR UP programs have been critical in leading education reform efforts to help reach the .

“National GEAR UP Week is a time to highlight the achievements of these programs as well as programs across the country,” says Karen Lee, executive director of �鶹��ý P–20 Partnerships for Education. “To be part of a national effort committed to expanding college access opportunities to build up our future workforce is something worth celebrating.”

For more about the three �鶹��ý GEAR UP programs, read the or go to the .

More about the national GEAR UP program

GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) is a college access program funded by the . Since its inception in 1999, GEAR UP has improved educational outcomes for millions of low-income students across the United States.

Related UH News video

, April 19, 2016