GEAR UP Arkansas

Summer can disappear fast, so make it count with small daily moves that keep your goals on track!

Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education provides grant funding each year to make summer camps available for FREE to all Arkansas students. Check out the two camps coming up in July, a music camp and a photography camp!

Information about Jazz camp:
https://www.csafortsmith.org/pop-rock-jazz

Registration link for both camps: https://app.gostudiopro.com/online/classes.php?account_id=35583

Find more information about all AEGIS camps here: https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Offices/learning-services/gt-ap/aegis-summer-programs

📣 NEW PARTNERSHIP ANNOUNCEMENT 📣

We are excited to announce our new partnership with the Arkansas Department of Commerce – Arkansas Securities Office!

Together, we look forward to supporting GEAR UP schools and communities through opportunities that empower students, families, and educators with valuable resources and knowledge for future success.

We are grateful for this collaboration and excited about the impact we can make together across our GEAR UP communities! 💙✨

Be sure to visit our Pop-Up at Books on ‘Da Block and stay for movie night. We will have swag, books, giveaways, and so much more.

🎉 THANK YOU TO OUR AMAZING GEAR UP SCHOOLS! 🎉

As we reflect on a successful GEAR UP Day at UCA (May 5–15, 2026), we want to extend a heartfelt THANK YOU to the students, educators, counselors, administrators, and staff who participated and helped make this experience meaningful.

Your schools arrived ready to learn, engaged in every session, asked thoughtful questions, and provided valuable feedback that will help us continue improving opportunities for students across Arkansas.

🏫 Thank You To:

⭐ Mabelvale Middle School
⭐ Mills University Studies High School
⭐ Hope High School
⭐ Clarendon High School
⭐ Blytheville Middle School
⭐ Camden-Fairview Middle School
⭐ Southwest High School
⭐ Brinkley High School
⭐ Helena-West Helena High School
⭐ Camden-Fairview High School
⭐ Central High School (Little Rock)
⭐ Marvell-Elaine High School
⭐ Jacksonville Middle School
⭐ Jacksonville High School
⭐ Lee High School – LCSD

Throughout the event, students explored college and career pathways, connected with professionals from a variety of industries, participated in hands-on activities, and gained valuable knowledge to help prepare for their futures.

Thank you for partnering with us to create experiences that inspire students to achieve their goals and realize their full potential. Your engagement, enthusiasm, and commitment to student success are what make programs like GEAR UP possible!

Together, we are building brighter futures—one student at a time. 💙💛

🌟 THANK YOU TO OUR AMAZING GEAR UP DAY PRESENTERS! 🌟

From May 5–15, 2026, our GUAR Middle and High School students had the incredible opportunity to explore college, career, leadership, STEM, financial literacy, entrepreneurship, public service, and so much more during GEAR UP Day at UCA.

We extend our sincere gratitude to the professionals, educators, community leaders, and organizations who volunteered their time, shared their expertise, and inspired our students to dream bigger and plan for their futures.

👏 Special Thanks To:

• Vergie Jackson, Intentional Collective LLC
• UCA Planetarium, STEM, Exercise Science, Outreach, Biology, and Nursing Programs
• Museum of Discovery – Little Rock
• Little Rock Zoo
• Metroplan Little Rock – Bernadette Rhodes & Jessica Deavult
• Dr. Robert Edwards, Veterinary Medicine
• Arvest Bank Conway – Robert Downing
• Arkansas 4-H – Michelle McVay
• Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
• Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service – Faulkner County, Anna Grace McCarty
• Pulaski Technical College STEM – Terrance Cox
• ASU-Beebe – Alex Tubbs
• Deon Holt – Entrepreneurship
• Arkansas Securities Department – James Rouse
• Jonesboro Business Academy – Henry Burrell
• Arkansas AIMS
• North Little Rock Police Department – Officer Michael Thomas
• Conway Fire Department – Captain Green
• Village Public Health – Dr. Quinyatta Mumford
• Qet’Aime Jones – Real Estate

Your willingness to invest in the next generation helps our students see what is possible and provides valuable insight into the many pathways available after high school.

Thank you for helping us empower, educate, and inspire the future leaders of Arkansas! 💙💛