Donation protected
DEAR FRIENDS & RELATIVES,
This 23rd annual South Dakota Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (SDGEARUP) Summer Honors Program is quickly approaching. SDGEARUP is very interested in expanding the opportunities available for the over 275 summer participants that attend this highly successful college readiness program, by adding a high school-aged boys and girls traveling basketball teams.
For those of you who are not familiar with SDGEARUP, I will be glad to introduce our program to you. SDGEARUP is a rigorous, pre-college summer enrichment summer program that works with over 275 American Indian high school students to improve their chances of success in college. SDGEARUP Students come from schools and tribes throughout South Dakota. We prepare students for success in college and by focusing on improving their experience in high school. SDGEARUP takes a comprehensive approach to improving the lives of the students we work with, and we offer classes that teach the students about Lakota Language, culture and history along with the traditional classes students will need to take in high school in order to succeed in college. In addition we provide workshops and classes in life skills, ACT Preparation, and college research and exploration. The SDGEARUP Summer program has been extremely success in that all of our alumni are high school graduates, with over 85 percept of these alumni entering college and 0ver 60 percent of these students either graduating or continuing to participate in college.
Our program is seven weeks long and we began on May 30, 2015 on a college campus located in Rapid City, South Dakota. The funding for SDGEARUP, is federal and this limits our ability to do extra-curricular oriented programming. Our grant funds can assist with things food, transportation and housing, however we are looking for assistance with funding for uniforms, entry fees for boys and girls Rapid City Summer League, entry fees for tournaments, and for AAU memberships for each player on the boys and girls teams. Our goal is to raise $3000 for this expanded summer experience this summer. Any donation amount to assist us with in our endeavor will be greatly appreciated.
I believe the importance of the SD GEAR UP program is important for our youth because the more educated leaders we can nurture for our Tribal Communities will help secure and improve the opportunities for all Native peoples. There is a great power in using sports to help students learn leadership, values of teamwork, and most importantly to learn how to balance things in life such as school work and sports.
I believe everyone knows that our Native youth have the talent to compete in collegiate athletics. These league teams can help some of our Native youth in South Dakota to gain some exposure and to help them understand the rigor required for participating in collegiate sports while balancing their school work. These practices, workouts, tournaments, and league games will also assist our players in preparing for their upcoming seasons as well.
Thank you,
Mackenzie Casey
SD GEAR UP Student Activities Coordinator
This 23rd annual South Dakota Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (SDGEARUP) Summer Honors Program is quickly approaching. SDGEARUP is very interested in expanding the opportunities available for the over 275 summer participants that attend this highly successful college readiness program, by adding a high school-aged boys and girls traveling basketball teams.
For those of you who are not familiar with SDGEARUP, I will be glad to introduce our program to you. SDGEARUP is a rigorous, pre-college summer enrichment summer program that works with over 275 American Indian high school students to improve their chances of success in college. SDGEARUP Students come from schools and tribes throughout South Dakota. We prepare students for success in college and by focusing on improving their experience in high school. SDGEARUP takes a comprehensive approach to improving the lives of the students we work with, and we offer classes that teach the students about Lakota Language, culture and history along with the traditional classes students will need to take in high school in order to succeed in college. In addition we provide workshops and classes in life skills, ACT Preparation, and college research and exploration. The SDGEARUP Summer program has been extremely success in that all of our alumni are high school graduates, with over 85 percept of these alumni entering college and 0ver 60 percent of these students either graduating or continuing to participate in college.
Our program is seven weeks long and we began on May 30, 2015 on a college campus located in Rapid City, South Dakota. The funding for SDGEARUP, is federal and this limits our ability to do extra-curricular oriented programming. Our grant funds can assist with things food, transportation and housing, however we are looking for assistance with funding for uniforms, entry fees for boys and girls Rapid City Summer League, entry fees for tournaments, and for AAU memberships for each player on the boys and girls teams. Our goal is to raise $3000 for this expanded summer experience this summer. Any donation amount to assist us with in our endeavor will be greatly appreciated.
I believe the importance of the SD GEAR UP program is important for our youth because the more educated leaders we can nurture for our Tribal Communities will help secure and improve the opportunities for all Native peoples. There is a great power in using sports to help students learn leadership, values of teamwork, and most importantly to learn how to balance things in life such as school work and sports.
I believe everyone knows that our Native youth have the talent to compete in collegiate athletics. These league teams can help some of our Native youth in South Dakota to gain some exposure and to help them understand the rigor required for participating in collegiate sports while balancing their school work. These practices, workouts, tournaments, and league games will also assist our players in preparing for their upcoming seasons as well.
Thank you,
Mackenzie Casey
SD GEAR UP Student Activities Coordinator
Organizer
Mackenzie Casey
Organizer
Rapid City, SD