K-16 President's Counselor Conference
Supporting First Generation College Students
by:- Laurie Miller (Gear Up), Denny Aldridge, Salli Robinson
Gear Up - How counselors have the ability to help students through their own awareness of cultural differences, family dynamics, economic issues, etc. - Maraia Weingarten (Trio), Michael Campbell, Victor Narsimulu
Trio - A comprehensive guidance model for college preparation of students from low income and potential first generation college students.
Supporting First Generation Students - Gear Up (pdf)
Supporting First Year Students - Trio (pptx)
Presenter's Bio:
Laurie Miller has been the Statewide Director for Utah's GEAR UP Educational Program since 2006. GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) is a federally-funded program designed to increase the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education. Denny serves as a GEAR UP counselor to students in the Nebo School District. Salli serves as a GEAR UP counselor to students at East High School.
Maraia Weingarten has been the TRIO Director for College Prep Programs (ETS & Upward Bound) at UVU (2 federally-funded programs) since 1991 and was the UVU Site Director for the first GEAR UP Partnership Grant with Provo School District from 1999 to 2005. She was a former school counselor with Alpine School District Alternative Programs - Mothers' High School and Assisted Studies and former president of the Utah Counseling Association that worked with the legislature to pass the LPC license for Master's level counselors. She was also a former member of the Utah School Counselors' Association and the Utah Mental Health Counselors' Association and their national affiliates.