Washington, D.C. - The U.S. Department of Education, under the Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) Program, is awarding a $1.8 million grant a designed to help prepare low-income, Lafayette Parish students to succeed in postsecondary education, U.S. Rep. Charles W. Boustany, Jr., (R-South Louisiana) confirmed Friday.
"The support we have received during the GEAR UP application process demonstrates that Louisiana is invested in the success and growth of our educational system. GEAR UP is essential in building academic rigor and support needed to encourage student success, increase commitment to learning and motivate youth to attend post-secondary education. We are grateful for Congressman Boustany's support of GEAR UP and Lafayette Parish Schools," Lafayette Parish School System GEAR UP Project Director Traci Aucoin said.
The congressman expressed his satisfaction with the announcement.
"The GEAR UP Program is an excellent tool for local school systems to identify talented low-income students and train them to realize their potential. By giving these students the tools to lift themselves out of the cycle of poverty, we can create a new generation of American achievers. I am proud to support the Lafayette Parish School System and the important work they do training the next generation of Louisianans," Boustany said.