Durango High School
GEAR UP
Las Vegas, NV
Let's make
college and career planning fun!
GEAR UP Specialists are on summer break from early June through August. Please be aware that emails sent during this time will be responded to upon our return. We wish you a safe and fun summer!
GEAR UP Calendar
APRIL 2024
APRIL 2024
Week
Wednesday, 4/3
Junior College Presentation
- Presenter: UNLV
- Grades: 11
- Time: 3rd period
- Location: Room 302
1
Week
Tuesday, 4/9
ATF & K9 Workshop
- Presenter: ATF in collaboration with the US Attorney’s Office
- Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
- Time: 4th period
- Location: Room 302
2
Week
Tuesday, 4/16
Nevada State University Tour
- Field trip paperwork required
- Grades: 10, 11, 12
- Time: 2nd through 6th period
- Bussing provided
3
Week
Tuesday, 4/23
Nevada State Careers Workshop
- Hosted by: State of Nevada
- Grades: 10, 11, 12
- Time: 4th period
- Location: Library
4
Wednesday, 4/3
Senior College Presentation
- Presenter: UNLV
- Grades: 12
- Time: 4th period
- Location: Room 302
Thursday, 4/11
College Corner
- During all 3 school lunches
- Location: Cafeteria stage
- Vendors: GBC, NSHE, US Navy
Wednesday, 4/17
College Q&A Workshop
- Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
- Time: 4th period
- Location: Room 302
Wednesday, 4/24
Nursing & Immigration Workshop
- Presenter: National Guard
- Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
- Time: 4th period
- Location: Library
Thursday, 4/4
College Corner
- During all 3 school lunches
- Location: Cafeteria stage
- Vendors: UNR, NSU
Friday, 4/12
Northwest Career College Tour
- Field trip paperwork required
- Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
- Time: 2nd through 5th period
- Bussing provided
Thursday, 4/18
College Corner
- During all 3 school lunches
- Location: Cafeteria stage
- Vendors: CSN, National Guard
Friday, 4/19
GEAR UP Block Party
- Hosted by GEAR UP in collaboration with all GEAR UP schools
- Location: CSN on W. Charleston
- Time: 4:30 pm - 7:30 pm,
Thursday, 4/25
Public Health & Nursing Workshop
- Presenter: UNR (Reno)
- Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
- Time: 3rd period
- Location: Library
Thursday, 4/25
College Corner
- During all 3 school lunches
- Location: Cafeteria stage
- Vendors: ASPIRE, National Guard, Student Success Agency
MAY 2024
MAY 2024
Week
Wednesday, 5/1
CSN CTE Credit Application Workshop
- Presenter: CSN CTE Dept.
- Grades: 12
- Time: 3rd period
- Location: Library
1
Week
Tuesday, 5/7
Avalon Institute (Beauty & Cosmetology) Workshop
- Presenter: Avalon Institute
- Grades: 11, 12
- Time: 6th period
- Location: GEAR UP Office
2
Thursday, 5/2
College Corner
- During all 3 school lunches
- Location: Cafeteria
- Vendors: UNLV, National Guard, Marines
Thursday, 5/2
CSN Health Degrees & Careers Workshop
- Presenter: CSN
- Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
- Time: 6th period
- Location: Library
Friday, 5/3
Finances for the Real World
- Presenter: Real Estate Agents
- Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
- Time: 6th period
- Location: Library
GEAR UP
Nevada State GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) is a federally funded grant that is designed to increase the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education. School selection is based on a federally free or reduced lunch rate of 50% or higher. Generally, students are identified as GEAR UP during their 7th grade year and exposed to GEAR UP activities that continue through high school and their first year of college at a Nevada System of Higher Education institution.
OUR GOALS
Increase the number of Nevada GEAR UP students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education.
Increase the rate of high school graduation and enrollment in postsecondary education for Nevada GEAR UP students.
GOAL 1
GOAL 2
GOAL 3
Increase Nevada GEAR UP students’ and families’ knowledge of postsecondary education options, preparation, and financing.
#GEARUPWORKS
meet your gear up specialists
Hometown: Las Vegas, NV
Rita was born in Chicago, IL and moved to Las Vegas in middle school. She graduated from UNLV with a bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education. Rita taught for nine years while earning her Master’s degree from UNLV in School Counseling. She was an assistant principal for two years before joining the GEAR UP program. Rita is excited to join the GEAR UP team and bring significant college and career exposure to students!
Hometown: Stevens Point, WI
Diana was born in Eau Claire, WI and attended the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse for her bachelor’s degree in Interpersonal Communication. She then attended the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater for her Masters in Counseling. She is a former school counselor at Durango. Diana is excited to continue building strong relationships with students and families while fostering community partnerships that support college and career exploration!
the gear up office is located inside the school library.
College Workshops with Reps
Career Workshops with Experts
Ongoing FAFSA, College, and Scholarship Application Support
College Tours & Field Trips
Contact GEAR UP to get
your own personal agent!
What Do We Offer?
Here’s a quick snippet of several FREE resources that we offer Durango students!
Student Success
Agency
College & Career Fair, Family Events, and more!
GEAR UP
What Our Students Are Saying
“Thank you for finding multiple opportunities for students. The amount of schools and career information we got from the guests was really helpful and I’m grateful.”
- KC, Sophomore at DHS
“I’ve gained much from this experience and the options I have with my life. The help given to us is up and beyond.”
- IC, Junior at DHS
“They offered so many workshops to help me, especially the FAFSA workshop. It was my first time ever doing anything like this and being the first person to graduate high school and go to college in America is SO stressful, especially when my mother was confused too. But with their help, we were in good hands.”
- YC, Senior at DHS
“Thank you for doing your best and working hard to make GEAR UP an amazing and safe place for us to go.”
- KR, Sophomore at DHS
2023-2024 dATA
DURANGO GEAR UP:
On the Road to Opportunity
3
Years that GEAR UP has been present at Durango High School
Nearly
74%
qualify for Free
& Reduced
Lunch
OUR
Student
Student
POPULATION:
OUR MISSION
To increase the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education.
OUR VISION
Every student prepared for postsecondary success.
12th
459
11th
560
10th
601
9th
567
Hispanic
Black
Caucasian
Asian or Pacific Islander
Multiracial
Native Hawaiian or Other
42 %
19 %
15 %
12 %
7 %
5 %
2
GEAR UP Specialists running the program
full-time
Both with Masters Degrees in Counseling
Both licensed as K-12 school counselors
1
COLLEGE &
CAREER FAIR
With
53
Vendors
Present
100+
workshops, events,
and field trips with over
4,100+
student attendance marks!
IMPORTANT
We use the term 'student attendance marks' to account for students who have participated in multiple workshops, college tours, or events.
15
8
37
College-related Workshops
1,511
student attendance
marks
19
Career-related Workshops
690
student attendance
marks
15
Bootcamp & Weekend
Sessions
605
student attendance
marks
College Corners with Military
Reps
400+
student attendance
marks
Field Trips During the School Day
289
student attendance
marks
7
FAFSA-related
Workshops
606+
student attendance
marks
FIELD TRIP LOCATIONS
UNIV. OF NV,
LAS VEGAS
UNIV. OF NV,
RENO
COLLEGE OF
SOUTHERN
NV
NEVADA
STATE
UNIV.
NORTHWEST
CAREER
COLLEGE
Capriotti's
HEAD-QUARTERS
220+
College-related requests for assistance
SEMESTER 2 ONLY
700+
Student office drop-ins
recorded
23%
23%
23%
23%
59%
59%
3%
3%
200+
Field trip-related requests for assistance
130+
FAFSA-related requests for assistance
120+
Scholarship-related requests for assistance
110+
Academic-related requests for assistance
Resume Building
Student Faves
Student Faves
TRADE JOBS
US MARSHALS
Electrical JATC of Southern Nevada
boys & girls club of southern nv
US MARSHAL & US ATTORNEY
Black Leadership in Special Law Enforcement
FAFSA Nights w/ Parents
the drug enforcement agency & secret service
How to Prepare for An Interview
GEAR UP, LOCAL COLLEGE REPS, AND LOCAL COMMUNITY ORGS
Nursing &
Immigration
Health Degrees & Careers
Putting Together the Pieces of Your College Puzzle
NATIONAL GUARD
boys & girls club of southern nv
Finances for the Real World
ATF w/ K9
college of southern nevada
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms
and Explosives
GREAT BASIN COLLEGE & NEVADA STATE UNIVERSITY
Wardley Real Estate
State Careers with Nevada
Beauty & Cosmetology
Are you a community organization, college, or business interested in hosting a free workshop related to college, career, or skills for the real world? If so, Contact GEAR UP today!
Nevada Department of Health and Human Services
AVALON INSTITUTE
