GEAR UP Kentucky
Students at 2023 Institute
Students at the 2023 GUK Institute for a College-Going Culture

Vision

Every student prepared for postsecondary success.

Mission

The mission of GEAR UP Kentucky is to increase the number of students in low-income Kentucky communities who are ready to successfully transition to and through postsecondary education. We do this by providing services and support to prepare the whole student, and equipping their families, institutions, and communities to promote and sustain student success.

2023 Summer Academy

During Summer 2023, GEAR UP Kentucky hosted its three-week Summer Academy on the campus of partner institution Morehead State University.

During this free, residential Summer Academy, 34 rising 10th and 11th graders from GUK districts got the opportunity to experience college life - everything from living in dorms to eating in the cafeteria. They even got to take a college course - for which they earned 3 credit hours!

The last day of the Summer Academy, students, GUK and Morehead staff, and family members celebrated their accomplishments. To get a glimpse at this special day, watch this short video.

2022-23 Results

Did you know that GEAR UP Kentucky provided the equivalent of nearly 6 years' worth (a/k/a 51,541 hours) of services to its students and families in 2022-23? 

How about the fact that GEAR UP Kentucky seniors' FAFSA completion rate for 2022-23 is more than 5 percentage points higher than the national FAFSA completion rate?

You can find out even more information about all that GEAR UP Kentucky provided - and to whom - during the last school year in the recently released  A Year in the Life, which you may access here.