Leadership Awards

 
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The 2025 NCCEP/GEAR UP Leadership Award Nominations are NOW OPEN! There are four categories for awards: (1) Professional Leaders of the Year (one executive-level and one providing direct services), (2) Student Leader of the Year, (3) Family Leader of the Year, and (4) Alum Leader of the Year. Award winners will be recognized at the 2025 NCCEP/GEAR UP Annual Conference in San Francisco, CA.

Our community is comprised of innumerable GEAR UP Heroes who are the change they wish to see in the world. We know that the success of your GEAR UP program relies on the collaborative efforts of your GEAR UP team, partners, and stakeholders, but that there are also those in your network who routinely exceed expectations.

With the annual Leadership Awards, we wish to recognize those individuals for their contributions to GEAR UP and our communities. For the second year, we have expanded our awards to include the Alum of the Year. This award was created in partnership with the GEAR UP Alumni Association to spotlight one alum of the year who actively engages their community and upholds the values and mission of GEAR UP.

Please take a moment to nominate a professional, student, family leader, and/or alum who deserves this national accolade from the GEAR UP community.

Nominations are due Thursday, May 8, 2025. You can submit multiple nominations.

Four Steps to Apply (click to expand):

  • Professional:

    • What makes this person an excellent candidate for this award?

    • How has the nominee’s work contributed to the improvement of college access and success for GEAR UP students?

    • What are the above and beyond elements that come to mind when thinking about the nominee and their support of GEAR UP?

    Student:

    • What makes this person an excellent candidate for this award?

    • How has the nominee’s involvement with GEAR UP helped to encourage other students to become engaged in college and career readiness?

    • What are the above and beyond elements that come to mind when thinking about the nominee and their support of GEAR UP?

    Family Member:

    • What makes this person an excellent candidate for this award?

    • How has the nominee's involvement with GEAR UP helped to encourage other families to become engaged in their child's college and career readiness?

    • What are above and beyond elements that come to mind when thinking of the nominee and their support of GEAR UP?

    Alum:

    • What unique traits make the nominee an excellent candidate for this award?

    • What specific achievements do you believe distinguish the nominee as a candidate for this award?

    • How has the nominee made a positive impact in their community, nationally, or among the GEAR UP community?

  • Include recommendations and supporting documentation to highlight your nominee (e.g., letters of recommendation, videos, photos, articles).

  • Complete the nomination form.

  • Wait to hear from us! We will reach out in mid-May.

2024 Recipients

2024 professional of the Year

Rosemary Agati
Connecticut

2024 Professional of the Year

Shenita V Bolton, Ed S
GEAR UP Fort Wayne (Indiana)

2024 Student of the Year

Jordan Giovanni Arellano
GEAR UP Compton

2024 Family Leader of the Year

Ana Ascencio
GEAR UP Manchester

 
 

2024 GEAR UP Alumni Award

James A. Diosa
2024 GEAR UP Alumni Award

Learn more about each NCCEP/GEAR UP Leadership Award.

  • The GEAR UP Family Leader of the Year is passionate and committed to the GEAR UP movement and the goal of ensuring that college access and success is available to all students. Through their work with other families, school faculty, staff, and partners of the GEAR UP grant, this person exudes perseverance to effectively assist students in their quest to access and succeed in a postsecondary education. We encourage you to think of the heroes in your community who are active in ensuring student success.

  • The GEAR UP Student of the Year is passionate and committed to the GEAR UP movement and the goal of ensuring that college access and success is available to all students. We encourage you to think of students in your GEAR UP program who embody GEAR UP’s mission to increase the number of students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education.

  • The GEAR UP Professional of the Year is passionate and committed to the GEAR UP movement and the goal of ensuring that college access and success is available to all students. Nominations for this award may include but are not limited to: directors, evaluators, coordinators, grant managers, family engagement facilitators, communications specialists, or college advisors.