Scholarships
The GEAR UP Alumni Association provides scholarships to directly address the financial obstacles that low-income, first-generation students disproportionately face during their transition to college and throughout their time at a higher education institution. Typically we have two cycles of scholarship applications: one towards the end of Spring, and one in the Summer. All applicants must be alumni of a GEAR UP program in order to qualify for funding.
Summer Melt Scholarship
Who can apply: 2026 high school seniors who participated in a GEAR UP program.
2026 Application Open Until May 31st
Winners Announced By June 14th
Before deadline, all applicants must:
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Register with GUAA
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Provide letter of recommendation from a GEAR UP counselor
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Provide proof of acceptance or enrollment at an institution of higher education
Persistence Scholarship
Who can apply: College students in at least their second year of study and participated in a GEAR UP program while in high school.
Next Application: Summer 2026
From housing deposits to orientation fees to textbooks and other small charges alike, the most detrimental financial obstacles are rarely the big costs like tuition.
"Over
40%
...of low income students who are admitted into schools in the spring do not attend in the Fall because they lack funds for things such as housing and orientation fees."
-Ben Castleman, 2014
Often financial aid is not disbursed before classes begin leaving low-income students without the means to purchase textbooks making it difficult to achieve the grades necessary to remain eligible for financial aid.
"Nearly 2/3
...of first generation college students did not buy their textbook for class and later felt it hurt their performance."
- Jenkins, JJ, et al. 2020.