Celebrating National GEAR UP Week: five Vermont students who are lighting the way

Since 1999, GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) has helped students from modest-income and first-generation families discover their path to postsecondary education and training. This week, VSAC celebrates National GEAR UP Week to share more about the program and its resources, and spotlight a handful of students who working with VSAC’s GEAR UP to grow, lead, and prepare for what’s next.

VSAC’s GEAR UP serves 2,000 middle and high school students in 33 schools across the state. In addition, the program serves approximately 300 students in their first year of postsecondary education or training. Students and families receive one-on-one college and career exploration, counseling, and family engagement opportunities. The program also supports school-based initiatives, educator training, and partnerships with colleges, training programs, and state agencies, all working to strengthen Vermont’s college and career-ready culture.

As we celebrate GEAR UP week this year, we’re highlighting a few extraordinary GEAR UP students from around Vermont—and how VSAC’s GEAR UP is helping them light the way.

LILLY SCHLEGEL

An eleventh grader at Oxbow High School, Lilly Schlegel is eager to take on new opportunities and challenges that will help her grow as a student and as a person. She hopes to become a postpartum nurse, supporting parents and newborns as they transition from childbirth.

Through GEAR UP, Lilly traveled to Washington, D.C., for the Youth Leadership Summit, an experience she says helped her grow. “This was an amazing opportunity that created a welcoming environment for people who want to improve their leadership skills,” she shares. “People from around the country met in D.C. for this event. I really enjoyed meeting people from different places and backgrounds.”

Kassidy Moore, Lilly’s VSAC GEAR UP outreach counselor, says, “Lilly is an amazing member of our GEAR UP community. She is involved with GEAR UP not only to prepare for her own future but also to help other students. She is making GEAR UP better for everyone in her community!”

ROWAN DRESSEL

Rowan Dressel is a ninth grader at Springfield High School with a passion for writing and journalism. He plans to go to college and build a career in the field. His GEAR UP counselor, Jessi Krause-Heron, describes him as magnetic and thoughtful, “one of those students who pushes the group to get the most out of every lesson.”

Rowan says SEEDS leadership training, offered through VSAC’s GEAR UP, has been one of the highlights of his time in school so far. Held at Vermont State Randolph, the SEEDS overnight leadership camp helps Vermont middle and high school students build confidence and social-emotional skills.

“From the moment Rowan walked into his first meeting, I could tell he was going to lead the group to squeeze the value from every lesson,” Krause-Heron says. “The positive energy and enthusiasm he brings to every space he enters is palpable and appreciated by educators and students.”

GRAYSON STAPLES

Grayson Staples is a ninth grader at North Country Union High School. He’s in advanced rock band and says he is trying to put himself out there as much as possible this year. GEAR UP has helped him grow his confidence.

Like Rowan, Grayson enjoyed the GEAR UP leadership training. “One cool thing I have been able to do with GEAR UP is their summer SEEDS program bringing together leaders from across the state to help teach us how to be leaders in our communities.”

His GEAR UP counselor, Amanda Frattaroli, describes Grayson as comfortably and authentically himself. “He is smart, kind, funny, and makes everyone around him feel comfortable,” she adds. “He is a joy to work with and watching him grow and learn has been a privilege. I know his determination and big heart will take him far!”

BROOKLYNN LETOURNEAU

As she’s entering her final year at Richford Junior Senior High School and Cold Hollow Career Center, Brooklynn Letourneau is excited to experience everything senior year has to offer, while preparing for a future as a nurse.

“I want to be a kind, caring, and hard-working nurse who everyone enjoys working with,” she says. “I want to make my patients feel comfortable, supported, and cared for, while also educating them to better understand their health.”

Through GEAR UP, Brooklynn has had opportunities like attending a college fair at St. Michael’s College, which helped her learn about different colleges and the application process. “It was a really helpful experience because it gave me a better idea of what I want to look for in a college and helped me feel more prepared for my future,” she says.

Brooklynn says her GEAR UP counselor, Matt Mitchell, has been a great resource, helping her organize her applications and manage all the pieces of applying for college and financial aid. “Brooklynn is a leader in her class and at the school,” Mitchell says, “including serving as captain of the varsity soccer team and treasurer of her class office.” Her leadership skills are sure to take her far.

AMELIA MUNGER

A junior at Vermont State Castleton, Amelia Munger is looking forward to gaining more clinical experience in a hospital setting as she works toward becoming a registered nurse. She plans to specialize in complex skin wounds, ostomy, and continence care at her local hospital.

VSAC outreach counselor Tia Stillman helped Amelia identify her next steps starting in middle school. “I’ve had GEAR UP by my side since junior high, helping me get to where I am now,” Amelia says. “They helped me start thinking about my goals early, and every time we met, they built my confidence to follow through. They helped me establish a path to get there; without GEAR UP, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”

VSAC’s GEAR UP is a powerful tool in closing opportunity gaps and building pathways to success for Vermont students, ensuring that thousands of students receive personalized support, guidance, and resources they need to pursue their goals beyond high school—whether that’s college or career training.

These five are just a handful of the incredible students in Vermont’s middle and high schools that benefit from GEAR UP support. We can’t wait to see what they do next!

The Vermont Student Assistance Corp. was created by the Vermont Legislature in 1965 as a public nonprofit agency. We advocate for Vermont students and their families to ensure that they have the tools they need to achieve their education and training goals. We create opportunities for all Vermont students, but particularly for those—of any age—who believe that the doors to education are closed to them. Growing families save for education with VT529, Vermont’s official 529 savings program. To help Vermonters plan and pay for college or job training, our counselors work with students in nearly every Vermont middle school and high school, and are also available to work with adults. Our grant, scholarship, and workforce development programs create opportunity, help students re-skill or learn new skills, and grow the economy. VSAC’s loan, loan refinance, and loan forgiveness programs provide competitive education financing to students and families. Find us at www.vsac.org or visit Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn.

Read the story on VTDigger here: Celebrating National GEAR UP Week: five Vermont students who are lighting the way.