Get Ahead.

Get Started.

Get HERE.

Welcome to the Class of 2025

GEAR UP
Scholarship FAQ

GU Parent Consent Form for
Post-Secondary Services

SAT Bootcamp Registration

Summer College Course Application: APPLY HERE

May 17th Family Meeting: REGISTER HERE

Questions about GEAR UP Waterbury

NEW CT State One College Application

PARENT SURVEY

STUDENT SURVEY

LET'S GET STARTED

GEAR UP
Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs

If you’re a student, parent, guardian or educator, you can increase college and career readiness with GEAR UP Waterbury as your partner. A federally funded grant program through the USDOE that helps empower local students to think beyond what they see today. GEAR UP CT provides the tools, resources, and programs to help students starting as early as middle school to increase their success in education

Through GEAR UP, we currently serve the class of 2025 across the City of Waterbury at Crosby High School, Kennedy High School, Wilby High School, State Street School, Enlightenment School, Waterbury Arts Magnet and Waterbury Career Academy.

GEAR UP is...

A partnership program between the Connecticut State Colleges & Universities, Waterbury Public Schools, and CT State Naugatuck Valley to support the Class of 2025. Our goal is to increase the number of students prepared for and ready to succeed in college!

FAMILY INVOLVEMENT

Get support, advice, and resources to help your student succeed in high school, and to prepare for their future after high school graduation.

SERVICES & PROGRAMS

• Academic Support Services
• SAT Prep
• Social-Emotional Support
• Financial Literacy & FAFSA Assistance
• Family Engagement 
• Summer Programming
• College & Career Exposure
• After-School Programs
• First Year College Support

SCHOLARSHIPS

Scholarship opportunities will be made available upon successful completion of the program. GEAR UP supports students to complete the required Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). GEAR UP can help you find local, national, and sponsored scholarships based on your individual needs.

NEWS IN GEAR: Spring Break College Tour

During Spring Break, forty GEAR UP students and six chaperones participated in a four-day college tour of schools in Springfield, Boston, and Newport.

Students visited seven campuses, including Westfield State University, Springfield College, Western New England University, Harvard University, Boston University, Mass Art, and Salve Regina University. In addition to these college tours, students ate in campus dining halls, participated in team-building activities, and experienced life in each city to help them along the path of finding the right "fit" when exploring colleges and universities.

GEARUP Summer Highlight

Darchelle Hutchins, GU EH Local Program Coordinator; Lesley Mara, AVP Systemwide Initiatives and Sponsored Programs • Academic & Student Affairs; Marisol Salaman, GU CT Fiscal Manager; Jennifer Allen, GEAR UP Wtby Grant Compliance Officer; Michael Savage, GU EH CCR Coordinator
What a team at the April 20 media event at Platt High School in Meriden, CT:    Scott Burrell, NBA Champion; Christina Lapierre, State Program Director for GEAR UP CT; Fatima Islam, GEARUP student; Alice Pritchard from CSCU, and NCAA and WNBA Champion Morgan Tuck.

What a team at the April 19 media event at Platt High School in Meriden, CT:    Scott Burrell, NBA Champion;Christina Lapierre, State Program Director for GearUP CT; Fatima Islam, GEARUP student; Alice Pritchard from CSCU, and NCAA and WNBA Champion Morgan Tuck.

Student Scholar Spotlight

Stay tuned for the
GEAR UP CT PSAT Bootcamp!

Follow us on Instagram!

Upcoming

HOMESTUDENT SCHOLAR SPOTLIGHTGU SERVICESRESOURCESTEAMNEWS & EVENTSFSA ID & FAFSA STEPS