GU Senior Rodney Banks Chosen to Attend Youth Leadership Summit

GEAR UP senior Rodney Banks Rodney Banks of Lee Maine, a 2011 graduate of Lee Academy, was selected to participate in the 2011 National Council for Community and Education Partnerships Youth Leadership Summit, which will be held in July in San Francisco. In Rodney’s essay submitted to NCCEP he wrote about the importance of staying focused during high school, "Never give up hope because determination and persistence are what will lead you to your dreams."

Of more than 300 applicants, Rodney was one of 35 high school students nationwide selected to take part in the summit, which includes an all-expenses-paid trip to the National GEAR UP conference. GEAR UP stands for Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs.

While at the conference Rodney will work with other scholars to compile a summit report focused on what educators should consider as they design strategies and programs for increasing student achievement.

Rodney is a member of the National Honor Society, student council, drama club and captain of the tennis team. He graduated from Lee Academy with honors on June 4, 2011 and plans to attend the University of Maine in Orono in the fall majoring in physics. Rodney is the son of Eliot and Amy Banks. Congratulations, Rodney from all of us at GEAR UP!

Find out more about the Maine State GEAR UP program at www.gearupme.org.