Thank you to Dr. Aaron Thompson, President of the NCCEP Board of Directors; Alex Chough, Interim President & CEO of NCCEP; Betty Paugh Ortiz, Vice President of Programs at NCCEP; Chrissy Tillery Ed.D, Vice President of Research and Evaluation at NCCEP; Dr. Samantha Elliot Briggs, 2020 GEAR UP Professional of the Year and Project Director for GEAR UP Alabama; Deltha Q. Colvin, 2020 GEAR UP Professional of the Year and Associate Vice President for Student Affairs, Special Programs at Wichita State University (WSU) with Wichita State University GEAR UP; and 2020 GEAR UP Student of the Year, Nellie Ellis, a recent graduate from Partners for Education at Berea College GEAR UP for participating in this year’s National GEAR UP Week Video.
Photo Credit: San Marcos ISD GEAR UP (University of Austin, Texas), GEAR UP Alabama on Facebook, NCCEP/GEAR UP Conference participants.
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ALT TEXT:
President of the NCCEP Board of Directors, Dr. Thompson: Every year, National GEAR UP Week is an opportunity to celebrate our collective successes.
Dr. Thompson: To reflect on the past year.
Dr. Thompson: And to get energized for the school year to come.
Dr. Thompson: As we all know, this year was unlike anything that we’ve seen in our lifetime.
Dr. Thompson: The world as we knew it, changed, seemingly overnight.
Dr. Thompson: We all had to completely transform how we lived, learned, and led.
Dr. Thompson: We all faced an insurmountable challenge.
Dr. Thompson: But we can get through this.
Dr. Thompson: We can get through it together, this is the power of GEAR UP.
NCCEP Interim President & CEO, Alex Chough: But of course, the GEAR UP family rose up.
Alex Chough: Resilient in the face of one of our greatest challenges yet.
Alex Chough: Overnight, grants pivoted to our new reality.
Alex Chough: In every corner of our nation, GEAR UP launched online learning programs. Started innovative outreach initiatives.
Alex Chough: And remained resolute in their commitment to GEAR UP students and families.
Alex Chough: Ultimately advancing the GEAR UP mission when students, families and communities needed it most.
NCCEP VP of Programs, Betty Paugh Ortiz: And, as we navigated a new world, a global pandemic,
NBetty Paugh Ortiz: Voices rang out, across the country, demanding to be seen and heard.
Betty Paugh Ortiz: Demanding social change.
Betty Paugh Ortiz: Demanding our country face deep rooted and pervasive racism.
Betty Paugh Ortiz: An issue impacting our students, families, and educators every day.
Professional of the Year, Dr. Briggs: And again, GEAR UP stood strong.
Dr. Briggs: By empowering the community to seek out knowledge.
Dr. Briggs: By elevating the voices of students.
Dr. Briggs: Ensuring that they were being heard by the systems impacting their lives.
NCCEP VP of Research and Evaluation, Chrissy Tillery: And now, with many of the issues that occurred over the past year far from being resolved,
Chrissy Tillery: GEAR UP remains rooted to meeting the needs of students and families as they navigate a new school year.
Chrissy Tillery: A school year that is going to be engulfed in uncertainty.
Chrissy Tillery: This is the proof, that GEAR UP works.
Student of the Year, Nellie Ellis: GEAR UP works because of the people. The people who stand by our students, like me, and do everything possible to guide students to success.
Nellie Ellis: More than anything, our success is rooted in the passion, promises, and sacrifices that you make each and every day.
Nellie Ellis: Our movement is fueled by your relentless efforts in service to others.
Nellie Ellis: This is a calling.
Nellie Ellis: The work is certainly not for everyone.
Nellie Ellis: It’s hard.
Nellie Ellis: Yet here you are, undeterred; unafraid; and ready to take your work to the next level.
Chrissy: To all of the educators in the GEAR UP community, we admire you. Your life’s work gives us a sense of purpose and it is a privilege to play a small part in your efforts.
Betty: To our GEAR UP families, your success gives us profound joy. Keep pushing us forward.
Professional of the Year, Deltha Q. Colvin: To our GEAR UP participants, you inspire us to no end. We are confident that the future is brighter than ever because of you.
Deltha Q. Colvin: Thank you for all that you do to foster hope, create opportunities, and cultivate success.
Dr. Thompson: As we celebrate this week, let us be clear, in knowing exactly what our jobs are.
Dr. Thompson: It is to help students succeed, it’s also to help us to think innovatively how we keep this going, even in times of all the items we are dealing with.
Dr. Thompson: We are a strong community.
Dr. Thompson: So happy GEAR UP Week, I look forward to seeing you soon.
