FLINT, Michigan — Last month, Central Michigan University (CMU) and Ferris State University’s (FSU) GEAR UP programs took 50 students from the International Academy of Flint, Flint Southwestern, Baldwin, Muskegon, Muskegon Heights, and Morley-Stanwood on a whirlwind trip across Michigan’s upper peninsula.
From Monday, June 24, through Friday, June 28, students, college student mentors, and professional staff journeyed to Mackinaw City, Northern Michigan University (NMU) in Marquette, Michigan Technological University (MTU) in Houghton, Lake Superior State University (LSSU) in Sault Ste. Marie, with a final stop on Mackinac Island.
GEAR UP, which stands for Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs, is funded nationally by the U.S. Department of Education and locally by the King-Chavez-Parks Initiative and the Workforce Development Agency.
Its purpose is to increase the number of low-income students who are significantly prepared to enter and succeed in post-secondary education by promoting academic excellence through various locally designed and innovative early intervention services.
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CMU and FSU GEAR UP students and staff pose for a group photo at Clark Lambros Beach in Marquette, MI, on June 25, 2024. (Xzavier Simon | Flintside.com)In February, the U.P. College Tour started planning to expose students to Michigan’s upper peninsula and the three major universities that make up the state’s 15 public universities.
To better equip students for college, in addition to the college tours, workshops and activities, financial aid presentations, and student-led panel discussions, GEAR UP students got a fuller university experience by staying on campus at NMU and LSSU, partaking in STEM-related activities like boat tours and rock climbing, and engaging in peer-to-peer mentorship with CMU and FSU college student employees.
The mentors were a highlight for the students as they made college, at times, a tall hill to climb, a worthwhile endeavor.
“I had a really, really good conversation about college with my mentor, and it encouraged me even more to want to go. My mentor eased my mind on college a ton and recommended me sites and methods to use in college,” says one student.
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GEAR UP students enjoy NMU's resi-life dorms with TikTok dance challenges and other activities on June 26, 2024. (Xzavier Simon | Flintside.com)After a six-hour bus ride, the first leg of the journey began at NMU. NMU’s Campus Visit Program Assistant, Center for Student Enrichment Staff, and NMU Student Ambassadors gave tours across campus, career exploration through various games, and student panel that talked about life on campus, financial aid, the student body population, and the cooler summers and bone-chilling winters.
Their stay included lunch and dinner at NMU’s Northern Lights Dining Hall, which featured a robust array of food options for staff and students.
Students also had the opportunity to stay three days and two nights and experience residential life firsthand. GEAR UP students engaged in movie nights, icebreaker activities, card games, dance battles, TikTok challenges, and more.
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The Pictured Rocks Cruises in Munising, MI, offered a variety of beautiful sights for GEAR UP on June 25, 2024. (Xzavier Simon | Flintside.com)
“Being in the dorms with my roomies, it was extremely fun. We had plenty of really deep and interesting conversations while being silly and being ourselves, having fun most of the time,” expressed one student.
CMU and FSU’s GEAR UP programs weren’t the only camps visiting. Several sports camps and other KCP-funded programs like TRIO and Upward Bound were in attendance, giving students numerous opportunities to network and talk with peers across the state.
Another perk of being in the Upper Peninsula was the opportunity for students to engage in various activities. One such trip was the famous Pictured Rocks Cruises in Munising, MI.
The two-hour private boat cruise with a tour guide and snack bar sailed up and through Lake Superior’s Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. The tour mentioned several iconic Lake Superior landscapes, beaches, wildlife, and cave-ins throughout the last decade.
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CMU and FSU college mentor staff listening to MTU's Unboxed Challenge on June 26, 2024. (Xzavier Simon | Flintside.com)
The middle portion of the college tour took place at Michigan Technological University — the furthest university between the three. The day was cold and rainy, and it started with a campus tour by MTU’s Admissions Department.
“[This was] my favorite tour,” voiced a student. “The campus is really nice and I liked what they offered.”
The tour in question gave students a slew of information about MTU’s highly specialized programs across different departments, and it included a stop by their giant husky statue. In addition, GEAR UP students participated in the group-based STEM activity called the Unboxed Challenge with MTU’s Center for Educational Outreach.
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GEAR UP students enjoying a sunny day at the beach on June 25, 2024. (Xzavier Simon | Flintside.com)
The Unboxed Challenge puts “students in role-playing scenarios with objectives like navigating an asteroid belt, communicating with aliens, fixing technical issues with their ship in the Galaxy theme, decoding binary, creating circuits, and using UV lights as undercover agents in the CIA theme.”
After a quick lunch, the next event included a presentation from Flint native Christopher Sanders who works at MTU’s Center for Diversity and Inclusion.
The evening fun came when students and staff enjoyed a late afternoon beach day at Clark Lambros Beach Park in Marquette as they ate hot dogs and hamburgers and took in some volleyball, football, and swimming in the frigid Lake Superior waters.
The final days of the trip saw everyone visit and stay at Lake Superior State University in Sault Ste Marie — the oldest city in Michigan — with views of the Sault Ste Marie International Bridge that connects it to the Ontario, Canadian side.
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A GEAR UP student taking in the sights on the Soo Locks Boat Tour in Sault Ste Marie, MI, near Lake Superior State University on June 27, 2024. (Xzavier Simon | Flintside.com)With an incredible breeze from Lake Superior, GEAR UP students were given a dynamic tour across campus, visiting LSSU’s impressive Chemistry, Aquaponics, Robotics, and SIM Center laboratory with one student mentioning how they “enjoyed seeing the scenery around the campus. I also enjoyed seeing the simulations.”
To cap off the day, students rode on the Soo Locks Boat Tour, where they enjoyed the many sights across the area with passes through the Canadian borders.
Back on campus, LSSU’s Student Activities Center stayed open later to allow students to run track, play basketball, use the rock climbing wall, watch a movie with popcorn, and enjoy campfire smores around a fire.
The final bus ride back to everyone’s respected city made a planned adventure to Mackinac Island for food, shopping, and visiting the island’s fort. With the five-day trip over, one student delivered an apology.
“I had an amazing trip. I’m sorry if I complained a little on the way, but it was definitely worth the experience.”
To learn more about CMU and FSU’s GEAR UP programs, visit: cmich.edu/gear-up and ferris.edu/gearup