SU Hosts State GEAR UP Conference
Syracuse University hosted the annual New York State GEAR UP Conference March 13-15, 2006 at the Sheraton University Hotel. Approximately 75 principals, teachers, parents and education professionals attended sessions throughout the 3-day conference. In addition, 84 seventh grade students from
SCSD Superintendent, Daniel Lowengard, and Vice Chancellor and Provost Deborah Freund were keynote speakers during the conference. Horace Smith, AVP, SU Undergraduate Studies and Retention and Lena Kochian, SU GEAR UP director, were presented with awards of appreciation for their commitment and dedication to the success of the GEAR UP program in NY State by James C. Ross, President of the NYS Higher Education Services Corportaion (HESC) and Delilah Reyes, NYGEAR UP State Director of HESC.
Presenters included Greg Forbes Siegman, author of "The First Thirty," a story of a boy so distracted by his dreams that he had to wear a helmet, who spoke to students about their dreams and goals; Rose Fabiszak from the College Board, who spoke to the students on college planning and academic preparation to help them discover the power of a college education; and Victoria Nunez, from SUNY Gear UP, who offered a dynamic overview of the 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens to the students. Anne Shelly, SSR executive director, in conjunction with Greg Victory, associate director of career services, presented a workshop focusing on transferable skills students need to be successful college students and young professionals.The conference concluded with a tour of the SU campus.
Pictured (left to right): James C. Ross, President of the NYS Higher Education Services Corportaion (HESC), Horace Smith, Associate Vice President of Undergraduate Studies and Retention, Delilah Reyes, NYGEAR UP State Director of HESC and Daniel Lowengard, Superintendent of Syracuse City School District.