GARDNER, MA - October 22, 2025 - Mount Wachusett Community College (MWCC) has been awarded a new seven-year GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) grant from the U.S. Department of Education for the Fitchburg GEAR UP 2031-2032 Project. This initiative will serve hundreds of Fitchburg Public School students, helping them prepare for and succeed in college through academic, financial, and family-based support services.

The Fitchburg GEAR UP 2031-2032 Project represents a robust community partnership led by MWCC, working closely with Fitchburg Public Schools, Fitchburg State University, and the MWCC Foundation, Inc. Additional partners include Rollstone Bank & Trust, All One Credit Union, Making Opportunity Count (MOC), the Spanish American Center, and the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce.

The project will engage students from Arthur M. Longsjo Middle School and Memorial Intermediate School, continuing through Fitchburg High School and Goodrich Academy. GEAR UP services will follow the 6th-grade cohort of the Class of 2032 and the 7th-grade cohort of the Class of 2031 through their high school graduation, and for the Class of 2031, through their first year of college. In total, the program will serve approximately 832 students in its first six years and 640 students in its final year.

"This grant expands access and equity in education for the students of Fitchburg," said Dr. James Vander Hooven, President of Mount Wachusett Community College. "GEAR UP helps ensure that students have the academic preparation, financial literacy, and community support to go on to college and thrive."

"The GEAR UP program has been a tremendous partner in helping Fitchburg Public Schools prepare our students for success after high school," added Jonathan Thompson, Superintendent of Fitchburg Public Schools. "Through tutoring, mentoring, college visits, and financial aid workshops, GEAR UP helps students build the confidence and skills they need to see college as an attainable goal. The program also provides families with valuable information about college and financial aid, ensuring they can support their children every step of the way. By working directly with our schools from middle school through high school, GEAR UP plays an important role in fostering a mindset of college and career readiness and opening doors to future opportunities for all students."

The mission of the Fitchburg GEAR UP 2031-2032 Project is to provide intensive, evidence-based academic and family interventions that increase student achievement and postsecondary readiness. The initiative focuses on three primary goals: increased academic performance and preparation for postsecondary education, increased high school graduation and college enrollment rates, and increased educational expectations and college knowledge for students and their families. Students and families will benefit from a wide range of college and career readiness services, including tutoring, academic advising, financial literacy, test preparation, and field trips.

"We are thrilled to continue this critical work," said Fagan Forhan, Dean of K-12 Partnerships and Civic Engagement. "This program builds a continuum of support that connects middle school, high school, and college, ensuring students stay engaged and on track every step of the way."

The Fitchburg GEAR UP partnership underscores MWCC's long-standing commitment to supporting educational equity, community collaboration, and lifelong opportunity for North Central Massachusetts students.

About GEAR UP
Funded by the U.S. Department of Education, GEAR UP is a national initiative designed to increase the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education. The 2025 award cycle included 40 new GEAR UP projects nationwide, totaling more than $108 million in first-year funding.