Denver GEAR UP Students Meet with Program Creator.

DENVER -- It was a once in a lifetime opportunity for students from Denver's Aurora High School as they met privately with the lawmaker who designed the much acclaimed early college awareness program, GEAR UP, in which they are currently enrolled. Congressman Chaka Fattah (D-PA), in town to attend the Democratic National Convention, took time from his busy schedule to meet with the group he refers to as America's future leaders.

The highly successful Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs was created a decade ago by Congressman Fattah. GEAR UP assists middle and high school students in the successful completion of their studies ensuring that they study hard and take the proper college preparatory classes. The goal is to make certain the students are eligible and competitive for admission to colleges and universities.

More than seventy students along with GEAR UP program directors met with Congressman Fattah to give him a first hand account of the programs impact on their lives and to thank him for the many opportunities such as tutoring, time management, and mentoring the program provides.

Congressman Fattah said, "It's exhilarating to know that these young people who have so much potential are able to access every tool available to them to be academically successful." Fattah added, "Because of GEAR UP, these students and thousands like them across the country will be prepared to perform on the highest academic level."

Since 1998 some 2 million students at high-poverty middle and high schools in 48 states and 4 territories have been served through the GEAR UP program. A new government report shows GEAR UP participants exceed the national averages of their peers in graduating high school and entering college.

For more information on GEAR UP, visit Congressman Fattah's website at: www.house.gov/fattah.