Brandt Frederick, David Hochstatter, Jasmine Keller, and Brittany VanWinkle were chosen to attend a week long program, sponsored by the U.S. Senate. WSU GEAR UP sent these students along with Moses Lake HS GEAR UP Site Director Nancy McLennan-Smith for an intense study of social and political issues.

Since 1971, Close Up has provided educational programs in Washington D.C. that help students learn how they, as ordinary citizens, can play key roles in the U.S. system of democracy. Close Up is known for being fun and for positively impacting student attitudes. Students meet with key people in government, law, business and media to gain real-world insights into how DC works. They meet with members of Congress (or staff), discuss hot issues with policy experts and dialogue with journalists about how the media shapes policy. Students also experience the stunning vistas of DC’s monuments – using our unique methodology that enables them to connect history to the roles they play in our democracy today.

All four students felt that this was a program/experience of a lifetime! They were walking throughout the most historical city in the United States and were able to use it as their classroom. If it had not been for the WSU GEAR UP program, these top MLHS students would never have been able to attend such a wonderful and educational program.

JOSHUA JAVIER LOERA

Washington State University will be fortunate to have a student like Joshua Javier Loera, as a member of their 2009-2010 incoming class. Moses Lake High School GEAR UP presented him with a $2000.00 scholarship to get him started with his future, as a WSU Cougar!

Josh has been involved in a vaiety of school and community activities for several years.  Upon entering high school he was immediately playing varsity basketball, and as a sophomore he not only played varsity for both basketball and football, but he was named Captain of his basketball team and he kept this position for three years.  He did not neglect his acadmics; Josh has been on the roll role for all four of his high school years.  Josh graduated with a 3.23 GPA. During high school, Josh participated in various community programs, such as the blood drive, grid kids and highway Clean UP, as well as a counselor for Camp Delani.  He is also an active member of Key Club and his church Youth Group.

Joshua Javier Loera will make Moses Lake High School, the Moses Lake community and his family very proud, as a WSU student.

Mose Lake High School School Counselors are attending the Washington School Counselor Association Annual Conference, in Seattle this week. This conference will help them be informed of any new college requirements, so that they may pass the information on to our GEAR UP students. This conference also provides breakout sessions on enhancing intrinsic motivation to change and achieve motivation, differentiating grief from trauma, and how to get and hold attention. Counselors have a vital role in motivating students to be successful in high school and college. Conferences such as these increase the knowledge and ability of school counselors, hence help all of our MLHS GEAR UP students. 

Moses Lake High School Math teachers are attending the Texas Instrument Conference, in Seattle this week. It is a unique opportunity to be introduced to new technology and gain practical approaches to using technology in their classes. MLHS GEAR UP students will be required to be able to use graphing calculators in any post-secondary classes they take. By exposing students to this technology in high school they will be better prepared for a post-secondary education. Having different methods to present information through technology they will be able to engage students who are interested and have an aptitude for technology and will increase their success rate in math classes and thus increase the graduation rate!