Rising 8th Graders Will Get a Taste of College Life at Ole Miss

March 27, 2009

Oxford, Miss. –– A select group of rising Mississippi eighth graders will spend three weeks getting a taste of college life at Ole Miss this summer as part of the 2009 GEAR UP Mississippi Summer College Exploration and Math Academy from June 14 to July 3.

Students will take a mathematics course from UM instructors and receive credit which may be applied towards their high school graduation. The program emphasizes not only improving study skills and time management, but making new friends and contacts as well.

The deadline to apply for a spot in the program is April 10. Space is limited, so eager applicants should apply early.

Select students are allowed to participate in the math academy for free if they attend a designated GEAR UP school as the program is funded by a grant from the Mississippi Institute of Higher Learning and the U.S. Department of Education. GEAR UP is an acronym for Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Program

Students attend seminars in the morning and after lunch, followed by exploring sessions with UM faculty, administrators, and staff. Participants generally have time for recreation and study after 3 p.m. A curfew is strictly imposed.

Program Director Jason Wilkins said the summer math academy gives students “a chance to socialize with others with similar interests and aspirations of success.”

Weekend activities include trips to the movie theater, swimming, outdoor recreation, and on–campus activities such as the 2009 Oxford Shakespeare Festival and UM’s Summer Concert Series. However, students may make plans to leave campus on the weekends if they coordinate it with the program director.

The GEAR UP Mississippi organization is funded primarily through the U.S. Department of Education which funds and coordinates partnerships of colleges, universities, community organizations, businesses, and schools to work students. These partnerships offer tutoring, mentoring, college preparation and financial aid, according to the organization’s Web site: http://www.gearupms.org/

To be eligible, students who attend a Gear up school district must turn in an application to their school’s site coordinator. Once accepted into the program, students will be mailed additional information from the UM Office of Pre–College Programs. Additional information and an online application are available at: http://www.outreach.olemiss.edu/youth/gearup/

(Andrew Abernathy)