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May 13, 2010

GEAR UP students participate in mock graduation

Students in the Monroe City Schools’ GEAR UP program celebrated their “mock” graduation from 10 to 11 a.m., May 13, Brown Auditorium. GEAR UP partnered with the University of Louisiana at Monroe’s College of Education and Human Development for the annual event.

This is the fourth annual “graduation” held for GEAR UP students. More than 200 eighth-grade students from local middle schools walked across the Brown Auditorium stage to “envision” their futures as college graduates.

Dr. Wayne Brumfield, vice president of student affairs, welcomed the students and, along with Dean Sandra Lemoine of the College of Education and Human Development, presented certificates to them.

Jason Stewart, director of Pre-Trial Diversion for the City of Monroe, offered the future class of 2018 some remarks about how education can increase opportunity and improve self-worth. He encouraged the students to strive for excellence in their futures to make their mock graduation a real one some day.

GEAR UP is a federally funded college awareness and readiness program that encourages young people to stay in school, study hard, and take the right courses to go to college.

The grant serves students attending Carroll, Lee, and Martin Luther King Junior High Schools, and Carroll, Neville High and Wossman High Schools.

For more information on the GEAR UP program visit:
www.mcschools.net/site66.php.

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