CWU GEARUP Robotics is a program sponsored by the US Federal Government and managed by Central Washington University, in Ellensburg, WA, which finished in 2021.
The Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) is a discretionary grant that supports efforts to increase the number of low-income students that obtain a secondary school diploma, and prepare for and succeed in postsecondary education.
GEAR UP at Central Washington University (CWU) is 100% federally funded by the United States Department of Education, and serves 3,242 scholars annually in the amount of $2.5 million dollars per year for a period of seven years.
The CWU GEAR UP program has had an active robotics component provided by the Learning Access Institute since the summer of 2011 offering robotics opportunity from 6th grade through 8th grade using VEX IQ and 9th to 12th grade using the VRC robotics programs.
2005
Securing its second GEAR UP grant, Central Washington University’s Okanogan Valley GEAR UP served students in and around Okanogan County. There there were 641 GEAR UP projects across the country, and the Department Education funded 125 new GEAR UP projects (98 partnerships, 27 states).
2011
On September 26, Central Washington University is awarded a GEAR UP grant with a budget of $11.2 million over 6 years. Sixty-six new grantees are awarded (47 partnerships, 19 states).
2014
Central Washington University is awarded a fourth GEAR UP grant with a budget of $12.8 million over 7 years. Thirty-seven new GEAR projects are funded (27 partnerships, 10 states).
2021
GEAR UP grant at CWU completed and wound down.