August 14, 2006
For Immediate Release
For an interview:
Laurie Hadley
(801) 863-6000
For additional information:
www.uvsc.edu
New GEAR UP Director at UVSC
Laurie Hadley was recently hired at the new Director of the state-wide GEAR UP Program at Utah Valley State College. GEAR UP, which stands for Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs, is a federally funded program designed to prepare middle and high school students for college through academic preparation programs and scholarships. GEAR UP focuses mainly on at-risk, low income and first generation college-bound students.
“Through my years as an educator, I have really enjoyed mentoring students,” Hadley said. “That is what appealed to me most about this position.”
As a first generation college student herself, Hadley is committed to helping young people see their potential. She has worked as an educator for the past 14 years. After receiving her doctorate in Instructional Systems Technology at Indiana University, she taught at Brigham Young University, Indiana University and Utah State University as a professor and then served as dean of Neumont University in Salt Lake City for three years.
“I look forward to the day when we can see our GEAR UP students graduate from high school and accomplish they think they are capable of now,” Hadley said. “A main goal of this program is to change student concepts about going to college.”
About a year ago, UVSC received a new six-year statewide grant for the GEAR UP program. The program at UVSC currently has partnerships with Salt Lake Community College, College of Eastern Utah and Utah State University to better serve the students of Utah.
“My main mission as director is to help us stay on track with our proposed plans,” Hadley said. “We need to fulfill our mission by helping these students to develop individualized life plans and identify what they need to be successful.”
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College Marketing Contact:
Megan Laurie
(801) 863-7149
Written by:
Jessica Beck
(801) 863-7205
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