On June 8, 2010 Franklin Middle School in Vallejo, CA will celebrate their California GEAR UP Education Trust Award recipients with a ceremony for students and families. Across the state of California, GEAR UP schools will be hosting celebrations for their ETA students, however, Franklin has a special surprise for this years honorees. Congressman George Miller has extended his personal appreciation for the hard work of the Education Trust Award students with a personal certificate for each student.

Our kids LOVE being recognized from their congressman… they feel very proud of themselves, as they should. Thank you (California GEAR UP) for giving our 4 students a certificate, I know their parents were extremely proud that we recognized their child’s efforts, I know they are going to be elated that Congressman Miller and his staff has recognized them as well.  Thanks again!!!

-Michael David, Franklin Middle School Principal

We are excited many of our schools are getting noticed by their local representatives for providing outstanding education opportunities for their community. This is just one example of how GEAR UP Leadership teams impact their school and families through the support of CA GEAR UP.

On May 13, La Paz Middle School in Salinas, CA celebrated their California GEAR UP Education Trust Awards recipients at with a ceremony and receptions entitled “Night of Excellence”.

Each year, participating California GEAR UP middle schools select students to receive Education Trust Awards valued at $2,000. College savings accounts are established in the name of each of the selected students that grow to approximately $2,500 by high school graduation. Students can access these funds to pay for college expenses once they enroll in a college or university.

The staff and parents shared what a wonderful gift it is to begin students in middle school a scholarship for college funds.  GEAR UP is playing an important role in developing a college emphasis on their campus. Education Trust Awards are great for our students. Thanks to California GEAR UP and the Leadership Team at La Paz.

-Sandy Carpenter-Stevenson, GEAR UP Regional Coordinator

La Paz Middle School is located in Salinas, just East of Monterey, CA. La Paz has been a GEAR UP school since 2008, and is making great strides in building a college-going culture throughout their school community.

How are you celebrating your college-bound middle grade students???

The California GEAR UP Program’s expectation is that offering a monetary incentive to students would stimulate the entire family and school community to support his or her preparation for college. College savings accounts are established in the name of each of the selected students that will accrue interest until students enroll in college. Students can access these funds to pay for college expenses once they enroll in a college or university.

The energy in the room was like Christmas Day! Excitement was everywhere. -GEAR UP Staff

GEAR UP provides a remarkable service to these students, as they are handed a direct link to their future. -Parent

The Valley – GEAR UP collaboration is a model of success. -Valley High teacher

California GEAR UP is excited to provide  288 awards to students across the state during May and June at Education Trust Award celebrations organized by Leadership Teams at participating schools. We will be sharing these events with you on our blog, so be sure to check in with us daily!

Special thanks to Chris Wong for the pictures and video (coming soon).

The California GEAR UP Program’s Education Trust Award Component is premised on the expectation that offering a monetary incentive to students would stimulate the entire family and school community to support his or her preparation for college. Each year, participating middle schools select students to receive an Education Trust Award valued at $2,000. College savings accounts are established in the name of each of the selected students that grow to approximately $2,500 by high school graduation. Students can access these funds to pay for college expenses once they enroll in a college or university.

Thanks to the principals from the middle schools for sharing the picture and information on the event:

Greetings from the Merced team! We had our ETA Awards Night Monday night and what a great event it was.

The Merced Schools (Hoover Middle School, Rivera Middle School, and Tenaya Middle School) came together on 5/10/10 to celebrate $28,000 in scholarship money going out to our students in the Merced City School District. Administrators were joined by Merced City School Board of Education Members Susan Walsh and Jessica Kazakos, Merced City School District Administrators Dr. Rosemary Parga-Duran, Greg Spicer, Dr. Tammie Calzadillas, Annie Dossetti, and Dr. Ken Testa, President of Merced Community College Dr. Ben Duran, and CA GEAR UP Regional Coordinator Jill Campbell.

The three Merced Schools have been a model of collaboration within California GEAR UP for the last two years, and this event was a culmination of their hard work and determination.

Since 1999, 5,129 students have received these awards from the program and are selected by school personnel at California GEAR UP schools.  We hope that you or a community member would like to attend one of our local Education Trust Award celebrations in your area. Contact us at Gear-Up@csac.ca.gov.

Cesar Chavez Middle School in Lynwood, CA effectively uses their schools home page to share with the school community their Education Trust Awards nominees and information about the awards process. Here is an excerpt from the page:

CCMS Is A College Going Culture School!

The California State Gear Up will award these students a $2,000 scholar share account.  The winners of this scholarship will be able to use their money as soon as they graduate from high school and enroll in a university, college, or vocational/trade school.  The alternates have an 80% chance of receiving the $2,000.

Winners were selected based on a 500 word essay stating, Why they felt they deserved the scholarship? and by an interview conducted by three CCMS staff members.  All students will have an opportunity to apply for this scholarship again next year.  For more information, contact Ms. Castro 310 886-7312.

We would love to see how you are celebrating your college-going culture at your school. Submit information to sean.brennan@ucop.edu and we will share on the blog.

Great job Cesar Chavez Middle School!

Here is another sample ETA criteria for your school to consider as you devise your awards process. This criteria was developed by one of our amazing cohort B schools in Granada Hills.

Categories:

Academic (20 points)

Based on student’s cumulative GPA.

• Multiply GPA by 5 to determine point total

Family Background (20 points) based on two parts:

• First in Family attending college (10 points)
• Title I (10 points)

Service Club Participation (20 points) in one or more clubs listed below:

• College/ Career club members (10 points)
• HEART members (5 points)
• Anti-bullying members (5 points)
• Leadership members (5 points)
• Peer tutors      (5 points)
• United Nations team members (5 points)

Persuasive Essay (15 points):

• Topic: How would going to college make a difference in my life?
• Requirements :
• Two pages typed (500 – 800 words)
• Double spaced, black 12-point Times Roman font

Interview (20 points):

• Selected students chosen from application process will be interviewed by members of the Leadership Team

Withhold 5 points for possible staff input.

Our Timeline

1)  Criteria determined at GEAR UP Team meeting – 2/9/10

2)  Finalize Criteria – 2/10/10

3)  Introduce Ed Trust Awards to students – 2/11/10 & 2/12/10

4)  Distribute Application to students – 2/17/10

– Kick off day event

5)  Due Date for application – 2/26/10

6)  Student Interviews begin 3/8/10

7)  Deadline to submit award recipients/ alternates on 3/19/10

This school decided to use straight GPA rather than academic growth. It is up to your Leadership Team to determine how to value each criterion. The only requirements for your process are: 1) Submission of process to your regional coordinator 2) An awards ceremony 3) All recipients have a valid Social Security number.

For more information on California GEAR UP Education Trust Awards, please go here and here.

GEAR UP Schools!  It is time to select students from your middle school to become Education Trust Award recipients for the 2009-2010 school year.  Schools will receive their packet of forms at the Forums/CSP Workshops along with the  number of awards from their Regional Coordinator.

Process:

• All GEAR UP Leadership Teams must submit a selection process for nominating students to their Regional Coordinator
• All GEAR UP schools must have an awards ceremony or celebration for awardees and alternates
• All nominated students must have a valid Social Security Number and be a current middle school student

Deadlines:

• Selection Form and Student Participation Forms must be submitted to the Commission no later than March 19, 2009
• Announcement of awards will be made by April 23, 2010

All forms should be mailed to:

California Student Aid Commission

GEAR UP

P.O. Box 419029

Rancho Cordova, CA.  95741-9029

If you have any questions please e-mail: GEAR-UP@csac.ca.gov or call (916) 479-6742

Please visit the Education Trust Awards page here for an sample ETA process, frequently asked questions, and pictures of past recipients.

Let us know what you are doing at in your leadership teams to prepare for the awards and how you expect to celebrate your awards ceremony.

~We want to hear from you!~