GEAR UP Hawaii

Floor Speech

Ms. HIRONO. Mr. President, I rise today to celebrate the successes of Hawaii's Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs, GEAR UP. Next Monday, September 22 marks the beginning of National GEAR UP Week.

GEAR UP is a national program that provides grants for States to help low-income students with college preparation, enrollment, and completion.

In 2011, the U.S. Department of Education awarded the University of Hawaii a 7-year GEAR-UP grant to improve college access and completion for low-income students. The P-20 Partnerships for Education manages this grant with its partners, the State Department of Education, the UH ten-campus system, and other public, nonprofit, and private entities.

Hawaii GEAR UP is helping reach the goal of having 55 percent of working age adults hold a 2- or 4-year degree by 2025. In shorthand, ``55 by `25.'' To reach this goal, GEAR UP Hawaii runs many programs to help low-income middle school and high school students focus on academic preparation, explore Early College options, learn more information about college access and financial aid, and improve college enrollment and completion.

In January of 2014, I had the chance to meet GEAR UP Hawaii students at Waipahu High School. The school's Early College High School program helps students earn college credit while still in high school.

One of the students I met was Juanito MoisMs. HIRONO. Mr. President, I rise today to celebrate the successes of Hawaii's Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs, GEAR UP. Next Monday, September 22 marks the beginning of National GEAR UP Week.

GEAR UP is a national program that provides grants for States to help low-income students with college preparation, enrollment, and completion.

In 2011, the U.S. Department of Education awarded the University of Hawaii a 7-year GEAR-UP grant to improve college access and completion for low-income students. The P-20 Partnerships for Education manages this grant with its partners, the State Department of Education, the UH ten-campus system, and other public, nonprofit, and private entities.

Hawaii GEAR UP is helping reach the goal of having 55 percent of working age adults hold a 2- or 4-year degree by 2025. In shorthand, ``55 by `25.'' To reach this goal, GEAR UP Hawaii runs many programs to help low-income middle school and high school students focus on academic preparation, explore Early College options, learn more information about college access and financial aid, and improve college enrollment and completion.

In January of 2014, I had the chance to meet GEAR UP Hawaii students at Waipahu High School. The school's Early College High School program helps students earn college credit while still in high school.

One of the students I met was Juanito Moises, National GEAR UP Youth of the Year. He came to Hawaii from the Philipines at age 9, not speaking English. He took rigorous courses and eventually earned a 3.98 high school GPA. He will be the first in his family to attend a 4-year college, and thanks to GEAR UP he will already have English 100 out of the way.

Juanito is just one of the thousands of low-income students in Hawaii and nationwide who GEAR UP is working to serve. The program's results show that GEAR UP students are more likely to complete rigorous coursework, apply and enroll in college, and earn college degrees, when compared with other low-income students who do not have the opportunity to participate.

Since I first came to the House in 2007, I have supported Federal funding for GEAR UP program, and I urge my colleagues in the Senate to do the same.

During National GEAR UP Week, let's celebrate GEAR UP's success and continue our efforts to help Hawaii students enter and complete college.
es, National GEAR UP Youth of the Year. He came to Hawaii from the Philipines at age 9, not speaking English. He took rigorous courses and eventually earned a 3.98 high school GPA. He will be the first in his family to attend a 4-year college, and thanks to GEAR UP he will already have English 100 out of the way.

Juanito is just one of the thousands of low-income students in Hawaii and nationwide who GEAR UP is working to serve. The program's results show that GEAR UP students are more likely to complete rigorous coursework, apply and enroll in college, and earn college degrees, when compared with other low-income students who do not have the opportunity to participate.

Since I first came to the House in 2007, I have supported Federal funding for GEAR UP program, and I urge my colleagues in the Senate to do the same.

During National GEAR UP Week, let's celebrate GEAR UP's success and continue our efforts to help Hawaii students enter and complete college.

Source