Medford Resident to Participate in Educational Leadership Program

Natalie Petit, an alumna of Middlesex Community College’s GEAR UP: Massachusetts Program – a partnership with the Lowell Public Schools (LPS) that promotes college readiness for seventh- through 12th-graders – has been selected to participate in the inaugural GEAR UP Alumni Leadership Academy (GUALA).

A Medford resident, Petit is one of 30 Alumni Leaders, selected from a nationwide pool of candidates. GUALA is a new 12-month leadership development program for alumni of the federal GEAR UP program.

Alumni Leaders recently traveled to Washington, D.C. for training in grassroots advocacy, social media advocacy, and leadership skills during a week-long retreat. Upon returning to their hometown areas, they will begin work toward creating positive change in education policy for their younger peers.

GEAR UP – or Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs – is a federally funded college-access and success program that serves approximately 700,000 low-income students nationwide. MCC’s GEAR UP: Massachusetts Program serves approximately 650 LPS middle- and high-school students annually.

GUALA is a new program designed to engage alumni in a national effort to educate lawmakers and the public about the value of investing in targeted college-access and success services. Using personal stories, Alumni Leaders will articulate the impact GEAR UP has had on their success in postsecondary education.

Petit joined MCC’s GEAR UP: Massachusetts Program in middle school. With the continuous counsel of mentor Colleen Winn, Director of MCC’s Pre-Collegiate TRIO Program and GEAR UP: Massachusetts, Petit graduated from LHS in 2008, and earned a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and Politics & History (double major) from Curry College in 2012. She is now pursuing a master’s degree in Public Administration at Suffolk University.

“Natalie will be a great ambassador for GEAR UP,” said Winn. “She has regularly participated in our local Gear UP program, and was a Gear UP Ambassador in middle school and high school. Natalie also has an understanding of the political process. She worked as an intern for Gov. Duval Patrick, and served as a Youth Board Member on the Massachusetts Juvenile Justice Committee.”

– Information and photo from Middlesex Community College