Lighting the Way: Oregon GEAR UP Brings Rural Voices to Washington, D.C.

Oregon GEAR UP delegation of educators, students, and leaders at the 2026 NCCEP Annual Conference in Washington D.C. — The Oregon GEAR UP delegation gathers in Washington, D.C. for the 2026 NCCEP Annual Conference, bringing together central office leadership, rural school administrators, coordinators, educators, families, and student advocates to advance postsecondary access across Oregon.

Education across the country is changing fast, but strong leadership helps light the way forward.

That spirit guided our Oregon GEAR UP team at the Annual NCCEP/GEAR UP Conference in Washington, D.C. This national meeting brings together educators, students, and parents to share what works for students in life after high school and higher education.

A group of students on stage — Student leader Kaymen represents rural Oregon youth during a national leadership event in Washington, D.C.

Students on stage and one holding a microphone — Student leader Zelda shares her insights with thousands of educators on stage at the national conference.

Student Leaders and Families Take Center Stage

Our Oregon delegation represented every part of our program: central office staff, school leaders, GEAR UP coordinators, teachers, students and a parent.

A huge highlight was having two students, Kaymen and Zelda, along with a parent champion from Neah-Kah-Nie High School in Rockaway Beach join us! Out of more than 500,000 GEAR UP students across the country, only 150 were chosen for the Youth Leadership Summit.

Kaymen and Zelda earned their spots by creating application videos about how GEAR UP supports their academic goals and gives them insider knowledge to succeed in school and beyond. They also prepared for D.C. by sharpening their skills at our Oregon GEAR UP Summer Leadership Camp!

During the conference, they worked with student leaders from across the nation to discuss their priorities and hopes for the future. On the final morning, they spoke on stage in front of over 2,000 national leaders!

While the students built their leadership skills, our parent joined the Family Leadership Institute to learn how families and schools can work together. As keynote speaker Julia Freeland Fisher, Director of Education Research at the Clayton Christensen Institute, shared: helping students succeed isn't just about what they know, it's about expanding who they know and can count on as they grow.

Danielle Taylor, Grace Whitley, and Cheyanne Pulsipher presenting on university grant administration internships at the 2026 NCCEP conference. — Operations Manager Danielle Taylor presents alongside graduate student interns Cheyanne Pulsipher and Grace Whitley (an Oregon GEAR UP alumna now with Idaho GEAR UP), highlighting how structured grant administration internships build talent pipelines for higher education professionals.

Sharing Oregon's Success on the National Stage

Oregon GEAR UP central office staff and partners also led two national presentations during the conference:

Empowering Collaborative Teams: Project Director Adrienne Enriquez and Ben Kaufmann, Dean of Academic Foundation and Student Success at Oregon Coast Community College, shared how rural leaders use flexible micro-grants and local teamwork to create fresh college and career opportunities for students.
Building Professional Skills Through Internships: Operations Manager Danielle Taylor, Oregon State University graduate intern Cheyanne Pulsipher, and Idaho GEAR UP Coordinator Grace Whitley (a former Oregon GEAR UP student and central office staff member!) shared how university internships and grant training build strong future careers in education.

Oregon GEAR UP delegation, including Oregon GEAR UP Communications Specialist Ashley Rodriguez, and District 2 educators meeting with Representative Cliff Bentz on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. — Following the national conference, Representative Cliff Bentz met on Capitol Hill with Principal David Norton, GEAR UP Coordinator Aaron Umpleby, Counselor Andy Davis, and GEAR UP Communications Specialist Ashley Rodriguez to discuss how rural Oregon GEAR UP programs drive career readiness.

Capitol Hill Advocacy with Representative Cliff Bentz

After the conference, several members from our delegation had the privilege of visiting Capitol Hill to connect with Representative Cliff Bentz (OR-02) and showcase how Oregon GEAR UP is driving growth and success in our Eastern Oregon school districts. While our program serves rural schools in countless ways, our team focused on how local partnerships enhance existing programs—expanding hands-on career exploration, advising, job shadowing, and campus visits to places like Oregon Tech.

Principal David Norton and GEAR UP Coordinator Aaron Umpleby (Pilot Rock Jr./Sr. High School), alongside Counselor Andy Davis (Bonanza Jr./Sr. High School), explained how these early experiences help students walk into career interviews with confidence. David also highlighted how Pilot Rock students recently rallied around a peer to protect their 100% graduation rate—a testament to the culture of support GEAR UP builds in schools.

Representing our central office, Communications Specialist Ashley Rodriguez coordinated the Congressional visit—a powerful, full-circle moment as a former Stanfield Secondary School GEAR UP student and Eastern Oregon University graduate now driving outreach for the very program that supported her journey.

Coming Home Inspired

From national presentations and student speeches to visiting Capitol Hill, our Oregon team came home inspired. By lifting up local voices and believing in our youth, Oregon GEAR UP will keep lighting the way for rural students across our state!

Empowering Students and Schools Statewide

One major way Oregon GEAR UP supports students, families and educators across Oregon and beyond is through our Oregon Goes To College website. Whether you're planning for college, exploring career training, or looking for classroom tools, discover free guides and resources at oregongoestocollege.org.