Oregon Schools Light the Way and Kick Off GEAR UP Week 2026
As a new school year begins, schools across Oregon are diving into college and career planning with fresh momentum. From classroom door-decorating contests and alumni panels to financial aid workshops and community career fairs, local campuses are marking National GAER UP Week (September 21-25, 2026) under this year's theme: "Lighting the Way".
Two Decades of Expanding Student Opportunities
For more than twenty years, Oregon GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) has served as a foundational pillar for postsecondary preparation across the state. Since its launch in 2002, the program has partnered with 109 schools across 48 predominantly rural communities, walking alongside more than 40,000 students on their paths to higher education and fulfilling careers.
By providing targeted resources, professional development for educators, and voluntary student programming, Oregon GEAR UP helps build long-term, sustainable traditions of student success that endure well beyond the grant lifecycle.
How Our Schools Are "Lighting the Way"
What does "Lighting the Way" look like on the ground? Across our 10 active network schools—Bonanza, Gervais, Gilchrist, Mapleton, Pilot Rock, Prospect, Neah-Kah-Nie, St. Helens, Toledo, and Waldport—educators and students are driving innovative, student-led celebrations that highlight real culture shifts and hard work:
- Building Consistency from the Ground Up: At Bonanza Jr./Sr. High School, staff kicked off the year establishing a shared, common language around college and career pathways to give students absolute confidence when navigating future decisions. Meanwhile, Toledo Jr./Sr. High School is engaging staff accountability through data-driven professional development on student capabilities, helping push their FAFSA completion rate past 50%.
- Soaring Graduation Rates & Milestones: Schools are seeing incredible structural growth. Mapleton Middle/High School is celebrating a phenomenal 100% graduation rate for 2025-26, while Prospect Charter School saw their 4-year graduation rate jump from 41% to 64% thanks to expanding CTE electives and online college courses. At Gervais High School, FAFSA completion surged to 57% (up from 32% last year), alongside 100% of surveyed alumni reporting the school prepared them for life after high school.
- Student Leadership in Action: At Pilot Rock High School, student ambassadors take the reins running door-decorating contests, advisory bingo, and campus events that have driven staff participation in promoting a college-going culture to nearly 90%. Over at Neah-Kah-Nie High School, programs like Link Crew and Web Leaders helped 100% of 9th graders finish last year completely on track to graduate.
- Community and Career Connections: Gilchrist High School is celebrating a massive community win after hosting its first career fair in over 15 years, featuring more than 22 college and career representatives. Up north, St. Helens High School is using the Oregon Promise to help drive an increase in graduation rates, and Waldport Middle/High School has seen student familiarity with the FAFSA go up since the grant began.
"GEAR UP Week is a celebration of a new school year focused on helping students make meaningful plans for college and career. It's a reminder that preparation starts early-and that consistent support matters." — Adrienne Enriquez, Oregon GEAR UP Program Director
Join the Celebration!
GEAR UP success is a community achievement built by dedicated educators, supportive families, driven students, and local partners.
Follow along with the celebration this week using the official hashtags:
- #GEARUPworks
- #GEARUPweek
- #LightingTheWay
Original Press Release