To kick off the GEAR UP IV: “Creating a Vision” grant program with their students, the project team decided to bring together nearly 10,000 8th-graders from 19 school districts (spanning almost 15,000 miles across Texas) for the “Learners Today, Leaders Tomorrow” Prep Rally. Also serving as a student leadership conference, the big event took place at the Laredo Energy Arena—and the energy level was matched only by the excitement of all in attendance.

The entire GEAR UP IV class of 2017 got to visit with reps from 30 postsecondary institutions and then hear from a compelling group of speakers (from a U.S. Congressman to a cape-clad motivational expert, and a whole lot in between) about the importance of setting goals now as they embark on their journeys to college. The enthusiasm of the crowd was overwhelming, and there’s no doubt that each student boarded their bus home with a huge dose of extra college motivation.