Overview

GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) is a discretionary grant program 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. The Gear Up grant was awarded to Sumter School District for the Class of 2024 in 2018. The College Support Specialists began working with the class of 2024 in 7th grade, and will continue to provide support and services to prepare them for academic success, high school graduation, college acceptance, and through the freshman year of college.



Serving the Class of 2024


SHS Class of 2024 Acceptance Wall

SHS Class of 2024 currently has over $7 million dollars in Scholarships! 

Goal: $10 million

CONGRATULATIONS!

Congratulations to Sophia Boone, a Sumter High School Senior, who got accepted intoThe United States Military Academy at West Point! 

Sophia is in the International Baccalaureate program, ranks 14th in the class, holds a 4.9 GPA, plays on the varsity soccer team.

“It was kind of surreal to actually open up my acceptance,” Boone said. “I cried, it was an emotional moment, and then I went down and told my parents.” Boone says the college application process has been a long one, but that applying for West Point was a whole different animal compared to other schools. Luckily, she says being part of the International Baccalaureate program has helped her transition while keeping her grades up. 

Boone is the first student from Sumter High School to attend West Point. The school has a 12% acceptance rate. 

 #GamecockGreatness #SSDShiningStars

Congratulations to Jeshua Espiritu, a Sumter High School Senior, who is now the 51st president of Junior Civitan International. 

Founded in 1927, Junior Civitan International brings together thousands of middle and high school students across the globe to participate in service projects like school cleanups, collection drives, awareness campaigns and volunteer activities at local agencies or in their own schools and communities. According to Sumter Junior Civitan Advisor Kyle Austin, Jeshua is the first president of the organization from Sumter.

"It's a big deal because the spot is obviously a little hard to come by, especially in an organization as big as ours," Jeshua said. "You actually have to put yourself out there, not only within Sumter, not only within South Carolina, but the entire organization."

On February 14, 2024, Sumter High GEAR UP held College Application Day.

Eight of our seniors were accepted into Morris College.

 #GamecockGreatness #SSDShiningStars


Congratulations to Jada Collins, a senior at Sumter High School, for receiving over 60 acceptance letters and $1.7 million in scholarship offers so far. With a 4.5 GPA and extracurricular involvement from the orchestra to Future Business Leaders of America, Collins said she applied to 74 colleges. 

According to Jada, the Gear Up program has prepared her for her college experience since the 7th grade from FASFA meetings and free college tours, to the many scholarship opportunities they sent out to the entire senior class. Most importantly, Gear Up Counselor Audrika Gadson, has been the “middle man” since day one. “Ms. Gadson’s door has always stayed open, not just her room door, but the door to her heart. She has encouraged me and others, and gave us healthy educated advice that will help us in the long run. Even when I needed a letter of recommendation, she was the first one to step up. As my scholarship amount increases over $1.7 million and over 60 acceptance letters, it simply stands as a witness that Gear Up has done, and is continuing to do its job.” 

 #GamecockGreatness #SSDShiningStars


Congratulations to Eriyonna Walcott, a senior at Sumter High School, for being accepted into the Coast Guard Academy Scholar program. Successful completion of the one-year program leads to direct appointment in the United States Coast Guard Academy. Eriyonna is the FIRST student in over 12 years who has been accepted into a service academy from Sumter School District and the only candidate in the state of South Carolina thus far.

The Gear Up program has helped her from the time she was in middle school in so many different ways. “Gear Up Counselor Audrika Gadson has pushed me to strive for the best and explore all of my options. From middle school and up until the end of my sophomore year, I never cared for college and didn't plan on going to college, yet Ms. Gadson has never given up on me. Gear Up has been there for me every step of the way. Gear Up provided me with books for my English classes, supplies, calculators, guidance, etc.,” said Walcott.  “Gear Up is the reason why I received my appointment to the academy. At the end of my sophomore year, Ms. Gadson called me into her room to talk, and she introduced me to the service academy. From that point on, I've never been so interested in anything else. Ms. Gadson had me reach out to admission officers and do research on the academy to put me on the right path to being accepted. Gear Up gave me the opportunity to go to the academy for a week and experience my future.”

 #GamecockGreatness #SSDShiningStars


The South Carolina State Senate passed a resolution to congratulate Senior, Gabrielle “Gabby” Miller for all her achievements as the Student Body President of Sumter High School. The resolution was introduced by Senators Vernon Stephens, Kevin Johnson, and Thomas McElveen. What an honor and privilege for our amazing Gabby to be recognized for her leadership, commitment, and dedication to our student body, school, and Sumter community. She is the epitome of #GamecockGreatness #SSDShiningStars

Congratulations to Tae Kim, an International Baccalaureate Senior at Sumter High School, for being named a Semifinalist in the 69th annual National Merit Scholarship program. He has an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,140 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $28 million that will be offered next spring. To be considered for a Merit Scholarship® award, Semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the Finalist level of the competition. About 95% percent of the Semifinalists are expected to attain Finalist standing, and about half of the Finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar® title.

Jeshua Espiritu, an International Baccalaureate Sumter High School Senior, has been recognized as a National Merit Commended Student in the 2024 National Merit Scholarship program. About 34,000 Commended Students throughout the nation are being recognized for their exceptional academic progress. Although they will not continue in the 2024 competition for National Merit Scholarship awards, Commended Students placed among the top 50,000 scorers who entered the 2024 competition by taking the 2022 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT).  #GamecockGreatness #SSDShiningStars



SHS GEAR UP Week

Congratulations to these young men and women on receiving $1.5 million dollars in scholarship money from Claflin University. 

ACTSAT Celebration Video.mp4

We celebrated our Juniors    (c/o 2024) who took  or registered for ACT/SAT this 22-23 school year. 


A big THANK YOU to the food trucks that graciously participated in this event:

*Smokologybbq

*Kona Ice

* Mi Promesa


The United States Coast Guard AIM (Academy Introduction Mission) is a program that allows high school students and their parents to learn about the Coast Guard Academy. This six-day experience brings rising high school seniors to the Academy to live and learn alongside current cadets. USCGA AIM participants will have the opportunity to explore Coast Guard careers, experience life at the Academy, and meet with members of the admissions staff. The acceptance rate for this program is 14.2%. In other words, of 100 students who apply, only 14 are admitted. This program is very selective and we are so proud that our very own, ERIYONNA WALCOTT, made it!!! She was determined and put in work to achieve this milestone. Congratulations!