Okanogan GEAR UP reports FAFSA rise to 64.7% and outlines rural outreach hurdles

Casey Ball, GEAR UP advisor for Okanogan High School and Middle School, briefed the advisory board on the district’s rural context and FAFSA progress. "We have a current FAFSA completion of 64.7%," Ball said, adding that GEAR UP’s return to the district and sustained outreach contributed to marked year-over-year improvement.

Ball described the district’s small class sizes (about 70 graduates on average) and local employment realities (orchard work and seasonal patterns), then outlined services provided: annual orientations, one-on-one FAFSA and award‑letter support, college and job site visits, tutoring, executive‑functioning workshops, and summer (13th-year) transition help. Ball highlighted bilingual staffing (noting a bilingual staff member, Jesse, and the importance of interpreter capacity) and said GEAR UP follows students through one year after graduation.

On challenges, Ball said parent access and expectations remain the largest obstacles — scheduling events that parents can attend and finding the right communication method have been difficult. He also flagged high student participation in sports and after-school activities as a barrier to reaching students during the school day. The presentation stressed building parent empowerment and local visibility through alumni talks and parent advisory committees.

Ball said GEAR UP’s services produced measurable blips in completion when programming occurred (for example, small increases after family orientation and financial-aid workshops). He encouraged continued partnerships with community scholarship organizations and WorkSource to sustain students’ post‑high‑school options.

The advisory board thanked Ball and noted slides and contact information will be posted on the campaign website; staff said they will follow up with a survey and next steps before the May meeting.