Gear Up
GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) is a federally funded college access program designed to increase the number of students who are prepared to enter and succeed in post-secondary education immediately after high school.
Wilkes County Schools is one of ten school districts working in partnership with Appalachian State University to provide college preparation activities to approximately 15,000 middle and high school students and parents in western North Carolina.
In the 2025-2026 school year, students in grades 9-12 in the high schools will be served by the GEAR UP grant. The grant provides opportunities for students to visit college campuses, explore career opportunities, strengthen their academic and non-cognitive skills, learn about securing financial aid and scholarship assistance to pay for college, and develop their own pathways for their future lives after high school.
Wilkes County Schools is one of ten school districts working in partnership with Appalachian State University to provide college preparation activities to approximately 15,000 middle and high school students and parents in western North Carolina.
In the 2025-2026 school year, students in grades 9-12 in the high schools will be served by the GEAR UP grant. The grant provides opportunities for students to visit college campuses, explore career opportunities, strengthen their academic and non-cognitive skills, learn about securing financial aid and scholarship assistance to pay for college, and develop their own pathways for their future lives after high school.
Wilkes County has three full-time GEAR UP Coordinators who serve the five high schools in the grant.
JordAnne Belcher serves East Wilkes High and North Wilkes High. Email Ms. Belcher.
Sarah Whittington serves Wilkes Central High. Email Ms. Whittington.
To visit the Appalachian State GEAR UP website, please go to https://gearup.appstate.edu
