GEAR UP Kentucky

06/03/2026

Hey, y'all! Meet Sheila Armstrong, GEAR UP Kentucky District Program Manager for Bath County Schools! 🧡 UPworks Bath County Middle School Bath County High School

GEAR UP Staff Spotlight: Sheila Armstrong

As GEAR UP Kentucky district program manager for Bath County Schools, Sheila works closely with school leaders, staff, students, and families to bring college and career readiness opportunities to life. Her main duties include coordinating planning, budgets, reporting, and partnerships - weaving GEAR UP into schools so students and families feel supported, informed, and confident about the path that’s right for them.

Sheila shares why higher education matters - and the impact she hopes to have on GEAR UP:

“Everybody deserves access to higher education. However, sometimes students haven’t been told or shown that. I hope to change that through my position at GEAR UP, by connecting students to opportunities while also showing them kindness, acceptance, support and encouragement.”

Fun fact about Sheila: In her senior year of high school, she planned to join the Army but chose a last-minute volleyball scholarship instead - a decision that changed her life and led her to become the first in her family to attend college and earn a Master’s degree.

05/26/2026

Hey, y'all! Meet Vanessa Moore, GEAR UP Kentucky District Program Manager for Newport Independent School District! 🧡 Newport High School Newport Intermediate School

GEAR UP Staff Spotlight: Vanessa Moore

Vanessa serves as GEAR UP Kentucky district program manager for Newport Independent Schools. Her main role is to help students and families understand postsecondary options such as college, technical training, apprenticeships, and military service so they can make informed and confident decisions about their future.

Vanessa shares why higher education matters - and the impact she hopes to have on GEAR UP:
“Higher education matters to me because it transforms the lives of individuals, strengthens families, and uplifts communities. I hope to ensure students and families are informed, supported, and confident in choosing postsecondary pathways while strengthening college and career readiness to help students graduate with a clear plan for their future.”

Fun fact about Vanessa: She’s the only girl in a family with 5 brothers!

05/14/2026

Hey, y’all! Meet Jarrod Fenwick, GEAR UP Kentucky District Program Manager for Washington County Schools! 🧡 Washington County Middle School Washington County High School NCCEP Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education

GEAR UP Staff Spotlight: Meet Jarrod Fenwick

As GEAR UP Kentucky district program manager for the Washington County School District, Jarrod partners closely with school leaders, staff, students, and families to help expand postsecondary education and career readiness opportunities across the district. He works to ensure students are empowered, prepared, and ready to pursue their post-high school goals.

Jarrod shares why higher education matters - and the impact he hopes to have on GEAR UP:

“Higher ed often gets stereotyped as a four-year degree, but it can include private schools, tech schools, KCTCS, certificates, diplomas, etc. Within the GEAR UP team I hope that I am someone that my colleagues can come to for help, that students seek out for guidance, and in the community I serve, I want to be seen as someone who puts others first.”

Fun fact about Jarrod: He’s an avid reader- with a collection of nearly 300 books in his own personal library, all happily stamped with his name!

05/06/2026

Hey, y'all! Meet Maddie Lawson, GEAR UP Kentucky District Program Manager for Anderson County Schools! We're so glad you've joined the GUKrew, Maddie! 🧡 NCCEP Anderson County High School Anderson County Middle School Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education The Anderson News

GEAR UP Staff Spotlight: Meet Maddie Lawson

As GEAR UP Kentucky district program manager for the Anderson County School District, Maddie’s main focus is to equip students with the knowledge, confidence, and skills necessary to become independent and successful citizens as they transition from high school into their chosen postsecondary paths.

Maddie shares why higher education matters - and the impact she hopes to have on GEAR UP:

“Higher education is important because it equips individuals with the skills needed for both career and for life, such as confidence, critical thinking, responsibility, adaptability, and effective communication. I hope to plant a spark of hope and confidence in the students of GEAR UP so they know they are capable of a postsecondary education, no matter their surrounding circumstances.”

Fun fact about Maddie: She loves “grandma” hobbies such as sewing, baking, and gardening. She also loves off-trail camping, fishing, and taking the Jeep on adventures!

05/01/2026

Yesterday, GEAR UP Kentucky and Pendleton County High School senior Josiah Hurdle was one of 18 students awarded a Straight 'A' Scholarship from the Anthony Munoz Foundation during a luncheon at Jeff Ruby's Steakhouse in Cincinnati. During the ceremony, Josiah recognized his GEAR UP Kentucky advisor, Jennifer Melton, as his Most Influential Teacher.

Mrs. Melton says, "Being nominated by Josiah as his Most Influential Teacher is a profound honor that I hold deeply to my heart. In my work with GEAR UP Kentucky, I've had the privilege of watching him navigate high school with a level of resilience and grit that inspires me daily. For Josiah, this scholarship is a well-deserved validation of his leadership and determination. This 'full-circle' moment is the greatest reward an educator can receive, seeing a student recognize his own potential and reach for his dreams. I am incredibly proud of the man he is becoming and can't wait to see the impact he makes on the world."

Josiah will be attending Eastern Kentucky University, where he will be pursuing a Bachelor's of Science in Fire Protection Administration. He will also earn an EMT license while completing the program.

Congratulations, Josiah and Mrs. Melton (seen here with Anthony Munoz)! We're so proud of both of you! 🧡 Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education NCCEP Pendleton County Schools The Falmouth Outlook

04/28/2026

Have a high school student interested in healthcare? This summer, HealthForce Fusion, located in Owensboro, gives students a hands-on, immersive opportunity to explore healthcare careers while building confidence and learning more about college and career pathways. For more information, contact HealthForce Kentucky.

04/23/2026

This time last week, middle and high school staff from GEAR UP Kentucky's eight districts were participating in the inaugural GEAR UP Kentucky (GUK) District Convening at Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education in Frankfort. During this two-day event, participants built their knowledge about the nine essential principles of career- and college-going culture, learned about how GUK services align with those principles, and began developing plans that embed GUK services into school culture to build sustainable practices. Many thanks to our partnering districts/schools! We're excited to begin this journey with you. Anderson County Schools Augusta Independent Schools Bath County Schools Mason County High School Mercer County Schools Newport Independent School District Pendleton County Schools Washington County Schools

04/22/2026

When we say "college," we mean any education after high school - whether that's a certification program, trade school, or 2- or 4-year college or university!

Amanda Ellis, CPE's SVP of Student Access and Success, recently appeared on the EdUpExperience Podcast to talk about how we define "college" in Kentucky.

Check out her episode here: https://www.edupexperience.com/amandaellis/

04/22/2026

Hey, y'all! Meet GEAR UP Kentucky's Chief Communications & Engagement Officer, the person who makes these Facebook posts! 😀 Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education NCCEP

GEAR UP Staff Spotlight: Meet Missy Brownson Ross

Missy serves as chief communications and engagement officer for GEAR UP KY. Her role includes leading communications and outreach, working with partners and the media to promote the various post-high school education and career options that are available to students. Missy also represents the program to share its impact and help keep everyone connected and informed.

Missy shares why higher education matters - and the impact she hopes to have on GEAR UP:

“Higher education matters to me because I have seen its positive, transformative power on the lives of not only our students, but also on the lives of their families. Ultimately, I want GEAR UP to be widely recognized as a trusted, life-changing resource that opens doors and expands opportunities for students who might not otherwise have the opportunity to explore those possibilities.”

Fun fact about Missy: She’s a poet whose books have been published by Frankfort-based Broadstone Books.

04/17/2026

We are so proud of Katie Black, a GEAR UP Kentucky graduate and current Marshall University student whose leadership abilities have been recognized on a national level, enabling her to be selected as a Seeds Training Team Leader for the upcoming Youth Leadership Summit (YLS). YLS will be held in Washington, D.C., this summer, in conjunction with the NCCEP/GEAR UP Annual Conference. Pendleton County Schools Pendleton County High School Wildcats The Craft Academy at Morehead State

GEAR UP Kentucky graduate Katie Black, who was one of three GEAR UP Kentucky students selected to participate in the Seeds Training Youth Leadership Summit (YLS) held during the NCCEP Annual Conference last summer, has been selected by Seeds Training to be a Team Leader for YLS this summer.

Katie will be traveling to Washington, D.C. for YLS, where she will be helping Seeds provide a multi-day interactive training (focused on life and leadership skills) and peer-to-peer learning opportunities for GEAR UP high school students from across the nation.