Congressman Fattah, Education Secretary Arne Duncan Shine the Spotlight on GEAR UP Week Oct. 24-28

WASHINGTON, Oct. 24, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Congressman Chaka Fattah (D-PA), the architect of Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP), has joined U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan to declare National GEAR UP Week Oct. 24-28, with messages that spotlight the program's mission in helping young people pursue and achieve their dreams of college success.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110323/DC70526LOGO)

GEAR UP Week - celebrating the $3 billion national success story that since 1999 has impacted the lives and college readiness of 12 million mostly low-income young people in 49 states -- is being observed nationwide with activities that include rallies, televised school assemblies, essay contests, parent workshops and reunions of GEAR UP alumni attending or graduated from college.

To mark the occasion, both Secretary Duncan and Congressman Fattah have issued GEAR UP Week messages via YouTube. Follow these links:

• For Duncan's message: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oE00UWAs_lA
• For Fattah's message: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNNlwcdyddw

Secretary Duncan, in praising both the Congressman and the Philadelphia program, says: "President Obama has made it clear that it is absolutely essential that all Americans complete at least one year of post-secondary education and training.

"That is why I commend all the educators, counselors, parents, business and community partners in Philadelphia and all across the country for their tireless work to help young people realize their true potential through college readiness, access and ultimately completion.

"I also want to thank my good friend Congressman Fattah for his amazing leadership as the national champion of GEAR UP and for cradle-to-career educational reform in his state and throughout the entire United States."

Congressman Fattah, who will be celebrating a special GEAR UP Day in his hometown of Philadelphia on Friday, October 28, declared:

"We're taking this week to say thank you to all the great GEAR UP students because of their great work in terms of academic excellence, their focus on preparing themselves for college.  And we want to thank the GEAR UP families, parents who've paid attention to all of the important information that's been provided about how a college education improves the life chances of the young people who are so dear to them and so important for our own country's future.

"I want to thank the Obama Administration.  The President has led the way to focus the country on the fact that we need to lead the world by 2020 which is just some nine years away now.  We want to be the leaders in the world in the number of adults with a college degree.  That is being made possible because of the great work of GEAR UP and I want to thank the GEAR UP staff and program directors."

SOURCE Office of Congressman Chaka Fattah

WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM?

440k+
Newsrooms &
Influencers

9k+
Digital Media
Outlets

270k+
Journalists
Opted In

GET STARTED