2015 GEAR UP Leadership Awards
Outstanding Individuals and Partners Impacting
GEAR UP Students, Families & Programs
NCCEP is proud to present the fourth annual GEAR UP Leadership Awards, which honor the achievements of individuals and
partners in four categories of GEAR UP leaders: Parent, Professional, Community Partner, and Youth of the Year. As was evidenced through the many inspiring nominations NCCEP received, GEAR UP programs around the country have outstanding individuals and partners who are making a very significant impact on students’ opportunities for postsecondary educational success.
Given the strong work in the field, this year’s awards honor two people in the Professional of the Year category, and an individual
and partner organization in the Community Partner of the Year category. We are grateful to those who submitted nominations
this year and wish we could highlight all nominees. As we recognize the 2015 winners, we hope their examples of leadership inspire
you and your work in the months ahead.
We thank ACT, Inc. for their sponsorship of the 2015 GEAR UP Leadership Awards ceremony.
GEAR UP COMMUNITY PARTNER OF THE YEAR | CONCORD UNIVERSITY
Athens, WV • West Virginia GEAR UP
Concord University is a small university, but in the past seven years its efforts to support West
Virginia GEAR UP have proven impressive and inspiring. Supporting West Virginia GEAR UP from
the beginning, Concord University hosted the first Student Leadership Academy and the first
GEAR UP U! Concord was also one of the first colleges to join the Text 4 Success Campaign, and
has hosted the College Prep Rally during College Application and Exploration Week. They also host
two College Goal Sunday sites, and support College Decision Days. Concord University strives to
support West Virginia GEAR UP, and no mountain is too high to climb. Concord has helped review each GEAR UP high
school located in southern West Virginia’s sustainability plan, provided services to GEAR UP students such as dual enrollment courses to area high schools, and offered assistance to students to help them, as needed, to further their education.
Realizing the importance of providing support systems to students, Concord University supplied a team of representatives
from the president’s office, academic affairs, student affairs, and admissions to travel to local GEAR UP schools and set up
computer labs helping students register for their college fair. Their team also took the time to provide information to the
students about the importance of meeting each college and asking the appropriate questions to each representative. Every
college in America has institutional scholarships, but Concord University recently offered West Virginia GEAR UP cohort
students over half a million dollars in new GEAR UP-specific scholarships to promote and enhance participation in GEAR
UP events. The entirety of Concord University works together to provide experiences, opportunities, and support to West
Virginia GEAR UP students, faculty, staff, and communities. Concord University’s dedication to students has touched many
lives and the good people of Concord University are revered as family to West Virginia GEAR UP.
GEAR UP COMMUNITY PARTNER OF THE YEAR | CHRIS CARROLL, Ph.D.
Lafayette, LA • Lafayette GEAR UP/Partnership Grant
Dr. Chris Carroll is an assistant professor in the department of civil engineering at the University of
Louisiana at Lafayette, and is a true inspiration to the GEAR UP students and families at the Lafayette
Parish School System. Dr. Carroll grew up in an impoverished, working-class family impacted by many
of the same factors that shape the lives of Lafayette GEAR UP youth. Dr. Carroll was inspired by his
mother’s perseverance and sacrifice throughout his childhood, and witnessed firsthand the transformational power of education. Eventually, he obtained his Ph.D. from Virginia Tech and pursued a career
in teaching to share his love for learning and help youth rise above their circumstances to achieve
success in education and in life. He began working with the Lafayette Parish GEAR UP program in the
fall of 2009 through a partnership with the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Over the course of the past six years, he
has created a research-based program to engage K–12 students in STEM-related activities. A nod to his true creativity,
two specific examples of Dr. Carroll’s approach to learning are the Trebuchet Competition and the Engineering Experience. During math-based Jeopardy games, math-based scavenger hunts, problem-based active learning modules, and
project-based competitions which bridge the gap between math, science, engineering and the real-world, Dr. Carroll has
encouraged under-performing students to find success through learning, and develop pride in building lasting bonds with
peers and mentors that break down economic, racial, and ethnic barriers in Lafayette schools. This fun, innovative meth-
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odology has inspired and built confidence in many students. Dr. Carroll supplements student experiences with professional
development opportunities for teachers to prepare them to integrate STEM modules and project-based competitions into
daily classroom instruction. Dr. Carroll also devoted a significant portion of his time during three of the past six years to
personally visit GEAR UP schools to give a variety of motivational, career-focused, and content-rich STEM presentations
reaching more than 1,500 students each year. Dr. Carroll has reached many more students as the co-host of numerous
engineering documentaries produced by The History, Discovery, and Science Channels. As a former first-generation
college student, he has a passion for reaching out to students from similar backgrounds to not only educate them about
science, math, and engineering, but also to help them find the strength and character to overcome adversity. Lafayette
students have been inspired by Dr. Carroll, taking his credo to heart: “We should never let someone define our futures
based on our past or current circumstances.”
GEAR UP PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR | STEPHANIE CARNAHAN
Eugene, OR • Oregon GEAR UP
A first-generation college student herself, Stephanie Carnahan believes in and has advocated for
access to postsecondary education for all students through her work as Oregon GEAR UP’s program
director for over a decade. Carnahan is the go-to person in the state on college access issues, especially
in regard to challenges and opportunities for rural communities. She is committed to doing what is best
for students and therefore has built partnerships that have expanded GEAR UP’s reach across the state.
Especially noteworthy is that she garnered five million dollars in private funding support through The
Ford Family Foundation for ten additional communities over six years. In addition, over 4,000 students
in 86 schools took part in Oregon College Application Week as part of the national American College
Application Campaign, and 20 additional school districts are utilizing the Oregon GEAR UP research-based model and
resources as part of a partnership with a regional college readiness group. Carnahan’s influence and leadership reaches
far and wide–across Oregon through her many statewide collaborations, regionally, and nationally with NCCEP and other
organizations, and among her staff and the schools Oregon GEAR UP serves. Her incredible passion for education drives
her to think outside the box and find innovate ways to help create more access throughout the region to GEAR UP initiatives. She is the co-founder of the Oregon College Access Network and serves on the College and Career Readiness committee of the Oregon Education Investment Board. Nationally, Carnahan is a key player in NCCEP conferences and trainings, and is much appreciated by GEAR UP directors across the country for her willingness to share resources and advice
as well as for her honesty and ability to “walk the talk.” She also serves on the College and Career Readiness Committee
of the Oregon Education Investment Board, the state’s key organization for education partnerships and funding. Whether
responding to requests for help from new grantees for guidance, hosting Western state GEAR UP conferences, or presenting at national ones, Carnahan has not only been there, but “shown up” with an authenticity that has made her, in the eyes
of many, a “GEAR UP Professional’s Professional.” Thousands of young people from across rural Oregon have benefited as
the result of her passionate, expert stewardship of Oregon GEAR UP over the years, and thousands more will benefit not
just in her state, but nationwide, thanks to her giving influence and support of GEAR UP.
GEAR UP PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR | LILLIAN RIVERA
Philadelphia, PA • GEAR UP Partnership Grant
Lillian Rivera, a staff person at Edison High School, is often considered “The Mayor” of the school
community by her colleagues and students. Ms. Rivera has been an invaluable resource for the School
District of Philadelphia by providing college and career information inside and outside the school, and
constantly networking to make possible connections and opportunities for all students. She attends
meetings for The Philadelphia College Prep Roundtable, presents at GEAR UP national conferences,
and provides turn-around training to GEAR UP and school-based colleagues on the most current trends
and priority areas in college attainment, FAFSA, the college application process, scholarships, AP test
preparation, and AVID strategies. Ms. Rivera also makes announcements, coordinates community
meetings, connects with parents, volunteers for afterschool clubs, coordinates AVID site-team meetings, provides FAFSA
and scholarship nights, and bakes items to raise money for the senior class activity fund. Ms. Rivera’s commitment to her
students extends far beyond the norm. She arrives at school by 6:30 am every morning–to be the first person her students
see. Holidays, evenings, and weekends are also filled with attending her students’ sporting games, visiting or hosting GEAR
UP families and students in her home, and caring for countless students in need. Recently, Ms. Rivera severely injured her
hand while working in her office. She delayed leaving for the hospital to help students complete their college applications.
She later learned that she needed hand surgery and rehabilitation, but that did not stop her from returning to school the
same day. Her optimism regarding her students’ ability to succeed inspires not only her students, but also school faculty,
parents, and her fellow colleagues. Ms. Rivera’s dedication and work ethic has enabled many students to be better prepared
for postsecondary education and to have the self-confidence and belief necessary to succeed. In a community plagued
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GEAR UP LEADERSHIP AWARDS (continued)
with poverty, school funding crises, uncertainty, underemployment, and low expectations for future success, Ms. Rivera is
completely selfless with her time and constantly does more than expected to be there for her kids, parents, and the school
community.
GEAR UP PARENT LEADER OF THE YEAR | SHEILA BARRAGAN DE GUERRERO
Hidalgo, Texas • Region One ESC GEAR UP: Ready, Set, College!
Sheila Guerrero is a passionate supporter and advocate of Hidalgo Early College High School GEAR UP.
Mrs. Guerrero has lived in socioeconomically disadvantaged communities much of her life, and has seen
first-hand how a lack of opportunities affects students. Hidalgo Independent School District is located
on the Texas-Mexico border of the Rio Grande Valley and is seen as the “Treasure of the Border.” While
this district provides an education to students from three of the most impoverished cities including
Hidalgo, Las Milpas, and Granjeno, the community is rich in cultural, familial, and social capital. Mrs.
Guerrero’s drive for education is incredible, as she views it is “the great equalizer.” She believes it is her
mission to teach parents and students of its importance. Mrs. Guerrero is a student herself, and is currently learning English to better serve her community through advocacy. However, being a native Spanish speaker has been
one of her greatest assets as the primary language of most families in the city of Hidalgo is Spanish. She has inspired many
with her commitment to ensuring that students and families receive vital information needed for them to navigate the
college-going process. Mrs. Guerrero attends all GEAR UP events, volunteers at Hidalgo Early College High School several
times per week, hosts GEAR UP parent meetings at her home, and utilizes various means of communication to reach all
families. She goes above and beyond to accommodate her community and ensure widespread dissemination of information.
Because of Mrs. Guerrero’s involvement with GEAR UP, other school district and community organizations have requested
her to be a part of their committees and focus groups. The junior high constantly calls her to be the parent voice on committees. She is currently a member of the Hidalgo ECHS LPAC committee, a Robotics and National Honor Society parent
sponsor, the High School Parent and Outreach Committee, and the District Health Committee. In addition, Mrs. Guerrero
is an active volunteer with the South Texas Literacy Coalition and is always available to assist teachers and administrators.
Mrs. Guerrero has risen to every challenge presented, and with her drive to help students she makes an enormous difference. Her hard work and dedication does not go unnoticed, and her passion benefits not just GEAR UP students, but the
entire community.
GEAR UP YOUTH OF THE YEAR | WILLIAM BROOKS VAN BUREN
Gillette, WY • GEAR UP Wyoming
William Van Buren fully embodies the attributes of perseverance and resiliency, and inevitably stands as
a prime example of their power. William is well aware of the challenges that life presents and has used
the knowledge gained from his experiences to not only shape his life, but to inspire those around him.
William and his two siblings were born into a single parent household. Throughout his early childhood
in Texas, William’s family faced significant financial hardships. William changed schools frequently and
bouts of homelessness caused him to miss four years of his elementary school education. Once his
family relocated to Wyoming, William was finally able to reenter school in the seventh grade. However,
he was unable to participate in activities outside of school hours, as much of his time required him to
care for his younger sibling and help his mother prepare the roses she sold in bars for a living. Catching up on his studies
and helping his mother support their family consumed William’s focus and energy. Soon he found solace in education,
especially in books, and slowly gained confidence in school and took pleasure in learning. William gained a sense of introspection beyond his years and his quest for knowledge led him to pursue many interests: he is an avid reader, writer, poet,
scientist, songwriter, guitarist, computer expert, and critical thinker. His desire to learn and to challenge himself became
well-developed throughout the years. William joined GEAR UP during his sophomore year of high school, and has become
a rising leader amongst his peers. William has been active in his community, participating in the State Science Olympiad and
the Wyoming State Reading Council’s Young Authors contest, and volunteering at the Elementary Science Discover Day
and the Prairie Wind Culture Fair. Although highly qualified academically, William was hesitant to pursue his dream school,
Purdue University, due to his academic history and the lack of financial resources. However, as someone who was deprived
of formal education for a good part of his life, the opportunity for post-secondary education meant everything to him.
Therefore, William remained determined and committed much of his free time his junior and senior year to one-on-one
meetings with his GEAR UP academic coach to complete college applications, perform scholarship searches, and research
degrees and careers. William will realize his dream, as he was recently named a 2015 Daniels Fund Scholarship Recipient:
this fall, he will study computer science at Purdue University.
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