Dr. Loretta Walton Jaggers and Dr. Nanthalia McJamerson, professors of education in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction ( College of Education), are in the process of preparing for the upcoming 2010 LA GEAR UP Summer Learning Camps. There will be two one week camps that will be held at Grambling State University. The first camp will be held May 30 – June 5, and the second camp will be held June 13 – 19. Dr. Jaggers and Dr. McJamerson serve as principal investigators for a grant they received from the Louisiana Board of Regents (LA SIP/ LA GEAR UP) for $104,374.00.
Initially, Dr. Jaggers and Dr. McJamerson submitted a proposal to the Louisiana Board of Regents (LA SIP/LA GEAR UP) in 2005 and received $37,000 for a one week GSU LA GEAR UP Summer Learning Camp. Afterwards, Dr. Jaggers and Dr. McJamerson continued to submit proposals and received funding to implement two one week Summer Learning Camps during 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009.
As a result of Grambling’s involvement in the LA GEAR UP Summer Learning Camps, Dr. Loretta Jaggers (Project Director), Dr. Nanthalia McJamerson (Co-Director/Leadership Training Coordinator), and Dr. Elaine Foster (Tutor/Counselor Coordinator), participated in the LA GEAR UP Fall Conference during September 29-30, 2009, in New Orleans, Louisiana.
The team presented a multi-media presentation that highlighted the GSU 2009 LA GEAR UP Summer Learning Camp activities and experiences. Additionally, in preparation for the 2010 camps, the GSU LA GEAR UP team will be involved in various meetings and training sessions.
Specifically, on April 9-10 the LA GEAR UP camp counselors throughout the state were involved in the LA GEAR UP Counselor Certification Training at Louisiana Tech University.
On April 22-24 Dr. Jaggers, McJamerson, and Foster will participate in the Statewide LA GEAR UP Project Director’s Meeting and Explorers Club Conference at Louisiana Tech University. Finally, the GSU May 24-28.
What is LA GEAR UP?
First, in 2002 the U.S. Department of Education awarded a 12.5 million dollar GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) grant to the State of Louisiana. In 2003 LA GEAR UP introduced Summer Learning Camps. These camps were designed to help students develop and enhance academic and leadership skills needed to help promote success as they complete their post secondary education.
The initiative focused on the following:
1) Provide stimulating experiences in Math, Science, Technology, and/or English/Language Arts,; 2) Expand career goals and aspirations; 3) Provide information about college that include early planning and financial support services; and 4) combine learning with fun.
As a result of these initiatives, funds became available to implement Summer Learning Camps at universities across the state for middle and high school students.
GSU Summer Learning Camp
The Grambling State University LA GEAR UP Project is designed to focus on the theme, CSI: Grambling (College Success Investigators). Using CSI (Crime Scene Investigation) projects, campers work collaboratively with their peers and content area specialists to strengthen basic Math, Science, and Reading/Literacy skills.
The camp activities are also designed to focus on leadership preparation, Math and Science tutorials study skills, test-taking strategies, preparation for college life, and career opportunities in Math and Science, and Reading/Literacy skills. GSU collaborated with community agencies/organizations, Louisiana Tech University and ULM University and other LA GEAR universities to plan and implement project activities.