Hosted through SUNY Jamestown Community College, the GEAR UP program is an initiative through the U.S. Department of Education and administered by the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC). It is designed to support underserved and at-risk high school populations in the region and help them become college and career ready.

Jamestown High School ninth-graders have been supported by the JCC GEAR UP program since the seventh grade and will continue to receive support through their freshman year of college.

Students in the program have access to support services – including academic tutoring, college and career counseling, college tours, financial literacy education, and mentorship opportunities – all aimed at guiding students on the journey beyond high school. JCC GEAR UP also provides the district with professional development opportunities for teachers, counselors, and administrators.

By providing resources and dedicated support, JCC GEAR UP aims to “level the playing field,” helping students overcome obstacles and realize their potential. Early awareness and exposure to colleges and careers starting in middle school is essential for informed decision making, goal setting, exploration, and preparedness.

Students enrolled in JCC GEAR UP participate in drone soccer, an eSport, with JHS teachers Daryl Damcott and Scott VanStee.

Ninth-grader Abraham Valderrama Bones said of the program, “I’ve gained so much with this program! They helped me by getting my grades up, improved my mental health, and they motivate me to learn something new. They are helping me become successful!”

“The GEAR UP program can be a transformative experience,” said Nichole Segrue, JCC GEAR UP director. “Providing students with guidance, resources, and the confidence to break barriers and pursue a brighter future they once thought impossible is very rewarding.”

One exciting initiative JCC GEAR UP brought to Jamestown Public Schools is drone soccer, an emerging eSport that combines elements of traditional soccer with drone piloting. Teams of students fly small, agile drones inside an enclosed arena, aiming to score goals by maneuvering their drones with precision and skill.

The fun STEM activity teaches students to build, program, operate, and repair drones while exposing them to potential careers in aviation, manufacturing, computers, and technology. This will be an ongoing summer program for the cohort and plans are in the works to integrate elements of drone soccer into the Jamestown Public Schools technology curriculum to benefit other grade levels. “The tools GEAR UP provides has the potential to benefit the whole school.” Segrue said.

Annual state-sponsored summer leadership academies will continue to be offered to students with a focus on educational and enrichment opportunities. Last summer, five Jamestown students, along with 95 other GEAR UP students from around New York state, traveled to Ithaca College for five days, where they discovered their creative abilities in designing and building apps, and were offered educational and enrichment opportunities.

Jamestown Community College contributed to this story.