CU-Lock Haven and Mansfield campuses awarded GEARUP grant to host summer camp

Commonwealth University Lock Haven and Mansfield campuses were awarded funding through a grant from the PA State GEAR UP, U.S. Department of Education to host a summer camp designed to increase student achievement through data-driven decisions, develop a sustainable college-going culture and establish a shared community vision for equitable college access and success.

The camp, held at CU-Lock Haven this summer, also provided a college-going culture through the exploration of "little known but available options" for career explorations. It focused on exposing, captivating and directing students to these rigorous courses, while assuring them of the support and guidance from faculty and staff.

The high school participants met with representatives from admissions, financial aid and student support services. In addition, Dr. Dwayne Marshall, professor in the Department of Anthropology, Sociology and Criminal Justice and author of the proposal, lectured and introduced the participants to the tools and equipment used to process crime scenes. Dr. Elaine Farkas, associate professor of physics, exposed the participants to the tools and equipment used by astronomers to study the planets and stars. 

The camp participants were high school students considering college as an option and who have expressed an interest in either crime scene investigations or astronomy. The students were from the Allentown, Norristown Area and Pottstown School Districts.