FSU GEAR UP Parent Wins National Award

A Fairmont State University GEAR UP parent was one of five recipients of the 2008-2009 GEAR UP Parent Leadership Award.

Betty Biggs, a parent supporter of Pickens School, received the award at the National Council for Community and Education Partnerships Annual Conference. In collaboration with NCCEP, CollegeEd, a leading college planning program developed by the College Board, presented the awards to parents who have demonstrated a significant commitment and leadership in their local GEAR UP initiative and school community. She was nominated for the national award because she had been named Parent of the Year for the Fairmont State GEAR UP Partnership.

Biggs has been involved with GEAR UP at Pickens School for nine years. The K-12 school has only four full-time and four part-time teachers. She and her husband Jim and their family reside in Helvetia.

"Betty has been a wonderful supporter of GEAR UP," said Amie Fazalare, Director of the Fairmont State GEAR UP Partnership. "Because of her involvement in so many other activities in her community, she was really able to communicate GEAR UP goals not only in the school, but also throughout the community. Her efforts greatly contributed to the accomplishment of GEAR UP's goals."

The following statement was included in Biggs' award application: "Ms. Biggs goes out of her way to ensure that GEAR UP parents understand the importance of a college education and that they know how to support their children as they pursue that dream. Helping parents understand the importance of postsecondary education is a challenge in the rural community where most of the GEAR UP students will be the first in their families to go on to postsecondary education. Through her hard work, persistence and dedication, she is helping to create a college-going culture that will benefit West Virginia's children and families for generations to come."

The College Board, a not-for-profit membership association, established the parent award program as part of its on-going commitment to equity and access for all students.

GEAR UP (Gaining Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) is a federal program designed to increase the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in college.

In 2005, Fairmont State was awarded the fourth largest of the 98 partnership grants given across the nation -- the only new grant to be awarded in West Virginia. The grant serves 14 counties: Barbour, Doddridge, Harrison, Marion, Monongalia, Preston, Randolph, Taylor, Tucker, Braxton, Calhoun, Gilmer, Lewis and Upshur.

For each of the six years of the grant, 6,617 students and their parents from 56 middle and high schools in the 14 counties will benefit from GEAR UP programs and services. More than 20 state, business and community partners, as well as hundreds of teachers, are committed to the program. GEAR UP activities include tutoring, mentoring, summer camps, teacher training and special workshops, field trips to colleges and special events, financial planning for parents, support equipment and motivational materials.

For more information about the FSU GEAR UP Partnership, visit www.fairmontstate.edu/gearup.  

 

Pictured are Amie Fazalare, Director of the Fairmont State University GEAR UP Partnership, and Betty Biggs, a GEAR UP parent who was one of five recipients of the national 2008-2009 GEAR UP Parent Leadership Award.