All 6th - 8th Grade TCMS students recently toured Thomas University and learned more about the GEAR UP program.  GEAR UP stands for Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs, and was designed to prepare middle and high school students for college. 

Thomas University received a 2.2 million dollar grant to be used over the next seven years where they will be partnered with Thomas County Schools among other schools in our area to help improve math and reading skills.   The program also provides workshops to help students with testing strategies on college entrance exams.  Students in the GEAR UP program are encouraged to participate in dual enrollment programs in which they take college courses at the same time as high school courses.  GEAR Up also partners with community volunteers to serve as mentors for students, speakers for events, and to provide job shadowing opportunities.

Students toured the campus and listened to the program coordinator for GEARUP give a workshop. The Magnolia Campus was next on the tour where students listened to motivational speaker Brooks Harper. Each student was given an autographed copy of his book, 7 Skills to Makes Mill$.