The school year is quickly approaching an end, and soon it’ll be time for summer fun.  Don’t forget to make the LA GEAR UP Project Director’s Challenge part of your summer plans.  Read and write about ten books over the summer and enter to win a cash prize.  Click on the link below to get the details.

2010 Project Director’s Challenge Packet

The 2009-2010 LA GEAR UP Poetry Contest is underway.  In addition, the month of April is the Academy of American Poets’ National Poetry Month.  For more information about National Poetry Month or to order a free National Poetry Month poster, pictured above, click here.  The 2009-2010 LA GEAR UP Poetry Contest writing topics are as follows:

7th Grade:  Albert Einstein said, “In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.”  Write a poem that inspires individuals to overcome adversity.

8th Grade:  Imagine that you have been asked to do a commercial announcement for one of the following topics: education, politics, or community service.  Choose  one of these topics and write the commercial as a poem that gives advice for positive change.

Download the student checklist to make sure your poem fits all the necessary criteria.  Contact your LA GEAR UP On-Site School Coordinator for more details and your school’s submission deadlines.

Applications for LA GEAR UP’s free one week summer camp experiences on university campuses will be available beginning February 1, 2010.  Go there now and begin the application.

Click here to download the 2010 summer camp brochure.

The 2010 Explorers Club State Conference & Leadership Summit will be held at Louisiana Tech University from April 22-24, 2010.  We’ll see you there!

The 2009 Fall Essay Contest is now open to students in grades seven and eight.  The purpose of the annual writing contest sponsored by LA GEAR UP is to target student achievement through writing.  The goal of this initiative is to promote writing proficiency in students across the State.  It is also an effort in which LA GEAR UP seek to encourage teachers and parents to participate in discussions regarding postsecondary opportunities with students.

Topics:

7th GRADE:    The owner of a very large company is offering a $10,000 scholarship to a student who can show that he or she has worked hard to achieve a goal.  Write an essay to convince the owner that you deserve the scholarship.  Tell the owner about a goal that you set for yourself and explain in detail how you achieved that goal.  In your essay give supporting evidence and convincing reasons why you should receive the scholarship.

8th GRADE:    Norman Vincent Peale, author, pastor and a founder of positive thinking said, “It takes struggle, a goal and enthusiasm to make a champion.”  Write an essay to explain what that quotation means to you.

For details on how to submit your essay, contact your school’s LA GEAR UP On-Site Coordinator.

Essay Contest Student Checklist

On Thursday, October 30, 2008, students from across Louisiana gathered at Louisiana’s Historic Old State Capitol to participate in a celebration of representative democracy.  All but two of Louisiana’s parishes were represented by students who carried the responsibility of reporting the results of their parishes’ mock presidential elections to the participants and dignitaries gathered. 

LA GEAR UP’s 2002-2008 Explorers Clubs were represented by Louisiana Legislative Youth Advisory Council member Kenneth Blackson, who traveled from Franklin Parish to represent his fellow Explorers Club members at this historic mock election.  Kenneth was accompanied by his mother Latanga Blackson, pictured at right. 

In addition to Kenneth’s offical represenatation of the Explorers Clubs, several other members were present.  Naturally, this came as no great surprise as Explorers Club members are providing excellent leadership at schools across Louisiana. 

Fred Reed III of Lake Providence High School, pictured at right, announced East Carroll Parish’s voting results as an interactive map was filled in with blue or red according to the parishes’ choice for president.  As a result, the interactive map of Louisiana was covered in both red for Senator John McCain and blue for Senator Barack Obama.  This was done in much the same style that the U.S. map will be viewed as candidates win the electoral college votes of states on election day.

Pictured below is Shenequa Powell, Explorers Club member from Lake Providence High School, accompanied by Mr. Armstrong and Ms. Meadows, both social studies teachers.

Secretary of State Jay Dardenne presided over the activity which was intended as an educational experience for Louisiana’s youth.  Student participants were either chosen by their school district’s superintendent or were members of the Louisiana Legislative Youth Advisory Council.

The day included a performance by McDonald 35’s phenomenal marching band, a patriotic top hat decorating competition, and a Geaux Vote Youtube video contest.  First place went to Baton Rouge High School.

Click here to view results from the National Student/Parent Mock Presidential Election.

In addition to Explorers Clubs being officially represented on the council, Casey Waguespack, Explorers Club president from East St. John High School, will be serving as a senior advisor for the council during his first year of college.  Read more about Casey on the Senior Celebrations page.