CMU graduate now gives back to mentoring program

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich., Dec. 17, 2009 — LaMarcus Howard has been a part of GEAR UP – a federally funded initiative that encourages students to begin preparing for college as early as middle school – since he was 13. Today, the recent Central Michigan University alumnus is an advocate for the program that gave him so much.

 

“Now that I’ve graduated from CMU, I’m able to give back and be an example,” Howard said. “GEAR UP has done so much for me. My main goal is to get as many Flint students into college as I can.”

 

Howard recently helped lead about 160 students from Flint schools around CMU’s campus for a daylong mentoring experience, which was part of a collaboration between CMU’s Volunteer Center, GEAR UP and a number of CMU students who are studying education. The students focused on what it takes to succeed in college and participated in workshops and had lunch with CMU students in residence halls.

 

“Every high school student should have the opportunity for an education beyond high school,” said CMU Volunteer Center Coordinator Shawna Ross. “So part of what CMU is trying to do is reach out to the students and include them in the programming we have here and teach them about what they can expect.”

 

Mary Henley, CMU’s GEAR UP director, said CMU student mentors discussed a number of college related issues with the Flint students such as financial aid and scholarships and the wide range of majors offered at CMU.

 

“We’re excited about this initiative because it gives students a feel and a taste of campus life,” Henley said. “We want them to think about their career choices, what they want to major in once they attend college.”

 

To learn more about the GEAR UP program at CMU, visit http://www.diversity.cmich.edu/gearup.

 

For additional news from Central Michigan University visit its online newsroom at http://www.news.cmich.edu.

 

Contact: Tracy Burton, 989-774-1072, tracy.burton@cmich.edu