Welcome April!

BLOG POST

Continuing with our new feature this year for our blog, writers can write a blog or tell us their Top 5! This month we are featuring a Top 5 blog about creative group icebreakers from Janet Stake, Director, NSHE GEAR UP Programming and Outreach. You can read it here!

The Winners of the 2nd Annual Nevada FAFSA Challenge?

May 2026

GEAR UP schools made great strides in FAFSA completion this year. But was it enough to win the statewide FAFSA completion competition? This year the competition will name three winners based on school size. The competition window closed at the end of March. The winners are still being determined by the competition planning committee. Stay tuned!!

YLS Selection

April 13th

The applications have been completed and four lucky students have been selected to attend the Youth Leadership Summit in Washington, DC in July. Specialists and students were recently notfied. In addition to the conference activities, students will have an extended trip to include campus tours and other educational experiences in the DC area!

Social Media

(For all students, parents, staff and supporters)

If you have any suggestions for our social media, let Jana or Janet know! We are open to new ideas to help grow our following! Don't forget to like and follow @gearupnv on any or all of our social media platforms! You can use the icons above to access the GEAR UP accounts. We would love for you to tag us and interact whenever possible!

More MCHS Photos!

It's Time to Get Excited About Summer Bridge!

The dates are set! Beginning Tuesday, June 23rd through Thursday, June 25th, up to 60 GEAR UP students will be transported to UNLV for a three day/ two-night stay on campus. This event will be filled with informational presentations, hands-on activities, campus tours, STEM opportunities, and field trips all while learning about the next steps after high school graduation into college, the workforce, the military, or career training. Stay tuned for more information about activities and student sign ups!

Huge shout out to Mario Rodriguez for planning this event and Josh Loftis for helping with the payment processing as well as our multiple chaperones, vendors, and presenters!

GEAR UP Goes to Elko!

Twenty-two students from MCHS took over the GBC Elko campus during spring break. Campus is normally quiet during spring break, but this year the campus rang with students chatter and laughter as students from grades 9-12 toured campus. Divided into 2 groups, they saw the residence halls, health science labs, CTE workshops, as well as the Learning Commons and Rec Center. To finish up the day, students enjoyed hanging out in the games room and eating at the campus restaurant, The Lunch Box, before heading back to Hawthorne. Graduating seniors planning to attend GBC in the fall even got to meet their advisor and schedule appointments to get their classes set up for next semester! All in all, it was a great trip!

So Long Jairon!

The time has come to say good-bye to Jairon Castellanos-Boteo, the GEAR UP First Year College Advisor at TMCC. Jairon has been with the program for several years now. He certainly made a great impression with our students and with the staff. He will not only be leaving GEAR UP but also TMCC. He moves onto a role with Washoe County Juvenile Services so he will still be working with youth.

We have enjoyed and appreciated working with you, Jairon! Thank you for being a part of our GEAR UP story! Wishing you lots of luck in your new position!

MCHS Vegas Journey Continues!

We previously had an article on GBC's Tech Day but there was much more to the Vegas visit by Mineral County High School (MCHS).

Mineral County High School GEAR UP took on Las Vegas this spring! 17 students were able to participate in GBC's Tech Career Exploration Day the first day, and toured CSN and NSU the second day. They ended their three-day tour at UNLV where they spent the afternoon touring the campus and ended the day at the women’s basketball game (UNLV won!). The highlights included being given a tour by a MCHS alum at NSU and spending time learning at each institution! The students went home exhausted but excited! 

May Awareness Calendars and MCHS Vegas Photos!