NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State University hosted the first of this semester’s Louisiana GEAR Up events by presenting an Experiential Learning Day for 110 Sabine Parish high school students Jan 27. Activities included an ACT Prep Workshop led by School of Education professors and the Winning Workshop Series which focuses on mindfulness and career readiness.
Students from Converse, Florien and Negreet high schools workshopped with college faculty from the departments of Psychology, Computer Information Systems (CIS), Fine and Graphic Art, New Media, Journalism and Communication Arts, and Nursing and Allied Health. Lunch was provided so that the visiting students could network with NSU faculty, staff and students between academic workshops.
“We heard from students that they enjoyed today’s experiential learning activities, dining at Iberville Cafeteria and touring our campus. We look forward to welcoming them back for future youth educational programming events planned for February and March,” said Steven Gruesbeck, executive director of La GEAR UP. “We also hope that they’ll return to NSU as freshmen, where we will continue to do our part to prepare them for successful entry into the workforce.”
A federally funded national initiative, Louisiana Gear Up (Louisiana Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) is supported by the U.S. Department of Education, which awards grants to states or institutions of higher learning to create partnerships with high-poverty middle or high schools. In partnership with 16 school districts and the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOSFA), Louisiana Gear Up aims to increase the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in post-secondary education.
