Federal Way resident George Williams has been chosen by the National Council for Community and Education Partnerships as one of five U.S. parents honored with the GEAR UP Parent Leadership Award.

Williams will receive his award at the annual conference July 19-22 in San Francisco.

GEAR UP — which stands for Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs — is a federal program designed to increase college attendance and success among low-income K-12 students.

Williams has been active in the GEAR UP program at Thomas Jefferson High School in the Federal Way School District for the past four years.

A retired EMT with the Seattle Fire Department, Williams has provided foster care for children for 20 years and has had one child participate in GEAR UP.

Willams organizes monthly meetings with students and their parents. There is also extra help with schooling Monday through Saturday for students falling behind in classes.

“It’s an awesome program,” Williams said. “It really helps the kids along. It helps them keep tabs, encourage them. It helps to keep the parents involved.”

The parent involvement is key, Williams said, and he can see that the program really works.

“They take education more seriously,” Williams said of the kids he works with. GEAR UP is outlined so well that it’s a “can’t fail situation,” he said.

“They do a good job of making sure kids keep focused. Good correspondence is the key to education,” he said.

GEAR UP started in Washington when the state received a six year, $21 million federal grant. The program focuses on a combination of tutoring, mentoring, college and career planning information, financial aid, summer programs and college visits.

Learn more

To learn more or volunteer with the GEAR UP program, visit www.gearup.wa.gov. For information about the National Council for Community and Education Partnerships, visit www.edpartnerships.org