Nevada GEAR UP Digest
March 2021
Greetings!
March is here! That means winter is behind us and spring is upon us. As usual, we have many activities and topical presentations planned for GEAR UP students and parents. The planning for summer programming is gaining momentum too with STEM activities, as well as 8th grade/high school and 12th grade/college transition programs. Be sure to check out our monthly Digest for all of the opportunities and updates.

During the month of March, we welcome warmer weather, spring flowers and nesting birds. We also look forward to spring break. We hope you all enjoy a little down time. Please take a few moments to find out about our GEAR UP happenings detailed below and as always, have a wonderful month!
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BLOG POST
This month's blog was written by GEAR UP First Year College Advisor at NSC, Nicola Opfer. Read it here!
UPCOMING EVENTS

NCCEP National Conference
The conference is scheduled for July 18-21, 2021. We still do not know if it will be virtual or in person. If it is in person, it will be held in San Francisco. Registration will be opening in April. The latest information can be found here.

Upcoming College Corners and Power Hours
In the coming weeks, we have several topical presentations planned during our regular College Corners and Power Hours. In addition to scholarships and time management information, we will also kick off Financial Literacy Month. You don't want to miss Dr. Kuniyuki from NSC presentation on why Just Getting a Job is Not Good Enough in April, and a presentation from NSHE's Chief Information Security Officer, Theresa Semmens on Cybersecurity, what it is and what careers are available in this growing field. This presentation will be held during our regular GEAR UP Power Hours.

Social Media
(For all students, parents, staff and supporters)
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. New GEAR UP students that like and follow us will be entered into a drawing for a great prize!! Don't wait! The drawing will be happening soon!

Help Wanted!
The GEAR UP program is hiring for a part time student worker to fill the GEAR UP Communications Specialist position. This person will help us with our social media, website, this newsletter, and promotional pieces. If you know a current college student in the Reno area, have them check out this link for more information: https://nshe.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/NSHE-external/job/System-Administration-Office---North/Student-Worker--Level-II_R0123953 .
Partnerships and Presentations by the Treasurer's Office and Nevada Help Desk!
NV 529 Plans logo
We are grateful to have amazing partners! Recently, Abraham Gomez, College Navigator for the Nevada Treasurer's Office (and former GEAR UP Ambassador at NSC), along with his colleagues presented information on financial aid basics, 529 College Savings Plans, the Millennium Scholarship, and more! These sessions were held for students and parents in both English and Spanish. Those that attended found the sessions very informative and would recommend them for other students and parents.

We also recently welcomed Dr. Duana Malone and some of her students from Nevada Help Desk at our GEAR UP Power Hours. GEAR UP is working on an agreement with Nevada Help Desk to provide technical certification courses for our 11th and 12th grade students over the summer, beginning in July. Additional information will be forth coming. If interested, students may email Janet Stake, jstake@nshe.nevada.edu. They will be put on an interest list and notified when registration is open.
Nevada Help Desk Logo
ASPIRE Application is Open!

We are very excited to announce that the first application for the new ASPIRE program has been released. ASPIRE will initially be working with select 8th grade students from Hyde Park, Walter Johnson, and Kenny Guinn Middle Schools in Clark County. The ASPIRE program will be housed at UNLV. The focus of this program is STEM education, support, exploration, and career options. We are very excited to welcome our first cohort of ASPIRE Scholars!!

The ASPIRE Scholars Director, Nicole Stella will be holding student and family information sessions on Saturday, March 20th at 10:00 and again at 2:00. You can join her at: https://unlv.webex.com/meet/ASPIRE . The application can be found here: https://unlv.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9zCmUCnPKGnDRGe . If you have any questions, you may contact Nicole Stella at nicole.stella@unlv.edu .
Thank you Daniel!
Former GEAR UP Ambassador Coordinator, Dr. Daniel Villanueva, returned to provide a professional development training for our First Year College Advisors (FYCA). This session included First Year College Experience, First Generation College Students, and Retention Strategies for students to continue on their college journey after GEAR UP services have been completed. The session was fun and informative. We enjoyed working with Daniel again too and would like to thank him for sharing his wit and his wisdom! As an added surprise for the FYCA team, GEAR UP provided each of them with a copy of the newly released book, College Belonging, by Lisa M. Nunn, which takes a new approach to assisting first generation/first year college students navigate college campus life.
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UNLV STEM Summer Camp

UNLV will be hosting it's annual Summer STEM Camp and GEAR UP will be providing an opportunity for 50 students to attend one of the modules. Students will be able to choose between four different modules; Coding, Internet of Things, Mathematical Reasoning and Modeling, and Climate Change and the Environment. The modules will be offered during the month of July for two weeks. Stay tuned for additional information on scheduling and for how students will be able to register for this virtual STEM opportunity. For more information, contact Janet Stake, jstake@nshe.nevada.edu.
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If not otherwise noted, questions regarding content in this Digest should be directed to: 
Janet Stake, NSHE GEAR UP Director, Programming and Outreach
Funded by USDE Nevada State GEAR UP Grant #P334S190009