UA’s GEAR UP Program to Conduct Historical Campus Tour for Holt High Students April 26

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) Program at The University of Alabama is sponsoring a walking tour of historic civil rights sites on the UA campus for students from Holt High School Wednesday, April 26.

GEAR UP offers some 900 students at Holt High School and Davis-Emerson Middle School academic, cultural, community and college resources to assist them, their parents and teachers. GEAR UP provides these area students in grades 7-12 after-school academic tutoring, mentoring, cultural and educational field trips, creative arts experiences and opportunities for community service.

The tour will begin at Foster Auditorium at 8:15 am, and it will culminate at Ferguson Center with a presentation by retired UA administrator Dr. John L. Blackburn.

Blackburn is an icon in the history and development of The University of Alabama.

On June 11, 1963, his dedication to progress and meticulous planning were credited as key elements in the historic peaceful integration of African-Americans into the Capstone.

GEAR UP receives 50 percent of its funding through a grant from the U.S. Department of Education. The other 50 percent comes from GEAR UP Partners. Partners are UA Office of Academic Affairs, UA Center for Teaching and Learning, UA College of Education, UA School of Social Work, Shelton State Community College, Tuscaloosa County School System and Tuscaloosa’s One Place (formerly the Tuscaloosa Family Resource Center).