The GEAR UP American Samoa (GUAS), a partnership program with the American Samoa Community College (ASCC) joined the nationwide celebration of the First Annual National GEAR UP Day on Friday, September 18th. This day commemorated 10 years of success for the transformative Gaining Early Awareness and Education for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP), a college access program created during the Clinton Administration. Since its inception in 1999, GEAR UP has improved educational outcomes for millions of low-income students across the United States .

The program provides intensive after-school tutoring, as well as special events and summer camps, to cohorts of qualifying high school students who come from low income families. GEAR UP specifically seeks to serve individuals who might be the first in their family ever to attend college. "The program proceeds from the idea that promising students from low income families can find greater opportunities open to them if they have access to state of the art tutoring methods and technologies," said GUAS Director Tupua Roy Fua. "Increasing these students' chances at these opportunities through academic achievement will ultimately help bridge the gap between the low and high income members of society. It's basically like 'moving on up' through education."

Looking back over the past three years that GEAR UP has operated in American Samoa , GUAS Director Tupua Roy Fua recalled, "We started July 2006, with a cohort of 850 students.  Today, in our third year, the program now serves over 1171.  Along with that original group of 850 came from 13 of the Territory's elementary schools, and as we followed these cohorts into high school, we found our 9th grade classrooms this past year came with an additional 309 plus students.  We can't overlook them, so we provide services to the entire class and we are also tracking the additional new GEAR UP kids in our database.  Our database now consists of 1171 and is still growing,"

To celebrate its success, GUAS hosted a Partners Award Luncheon at the Tradewinds Hotel, which will included recognizing its selected GUAS Teacher of the Year 2008-2009.  For the first ever American Samoa recipient of this prestigious award, the GUAS staff has selected Valasi Lam Yuen, the GUAS Leone High School Counselor, Teacher and Tutor.  "Her role in Leone has been tremendous. Valasi has demonstrated true commitment to the GUAS program," said Tupua, who also credits Valasi for working three weeks chaperoning the GUAS Marine Science Mini-Camps. 

ASCC President Dr. Seth Galea'i gave the keynote speech, and invited special guests included Department of Human and Social Services (ASDHSS) Director Mrs. Lei Stevenson, and American Samoa Department of Health (ASDOH) Dr. Tuiaina Salamo Laumoli. GUAS present the plaques to participating partners, who in addition to ASCC include ASDOE, the Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources, Ta'ita'itama Prevent Underage Drinking Initiative, Blue Sky Communications, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, SODEXO to mention a few.

GUAS received one of the Territory's highest forms of recognition when Governor Togiola T. A. Tulafono issued an official proclamation earlier in the week declaring Friday, September 18 as GEAR UP Day 2009 in American Samoa . "On behalf of ASCC President Dr. Seth Galea'i, we are proud to have received Governor Togiola Tulafono's Proclamation recognizing the hard work of the GEAR UP American Samoa Program," said Tupua. "We will frame this proclamation and display it prominently so that our GEAR UP community recognizes and appreciates the commitment made to preparing our students for college." 

For more information about GUAS, please contact them through ASCC at 699-9155. To learn more about the national GEAR UP program, contact the National Council for Community and Education Partnerships at 202-530-1135 or visit their web page at www.edpartnerships.org .