For Pahrump Valley High School junior Cailyn Marsh, what started as participation in a dual enrollment program has now opened the door to an opportunity that only a handful of students across Nevada will experience this summer.
Marsh was recently selected through GEAR UP to attend a youth leadership convention and college exploration program on the East Coast, an experience that will include leadership development, networking opportunities, discussions about college and career pathways, and visits to colleges and universities in and around Washington, D.C.
The opportunity is especially significant considering Marsh was one of only five students statewide selected for the program.
“GEAR UP is funding me to go to the East Coast to go to what is known as a youth leadership sort of convention camp,” Marsh explained. “We go through different activities, discussions of where our college careers are headed, and it’s kind of like a networking opportunity between students. Then after that three-day convention, we stay on the East Coast to visit colleges.”
Marsh said the convention portion of the trip is scheduled for July 18 through July 21, with college visits continuing through July 25. While she has not yet received the full itinerary, she expects the campuses to primarily be located in the Washington, D.C. area, though some travel outside the city is possible.
The opportunity came through Marsh’s involvement with GEAR UP and Great Basin College dual enrollment courses. Through the program, students are able to begin earning college credits while still attending high school, significantly reducing the financial burden many students face when pursuing higher education.
“So how GEAR UP works is it’s a student program for kids just like me from Pahrump Valley High School,” Marsh said. “You apply to be a dual enrollment student with GBC, and they help pay for your classes. GEAR UP is basically the middleman between my GBC courses and the payment needed for them. They help pay for everything.”
Marsh explained that the program has been instrumental in allowing students to access college-level education early, opening doors that might otherwise be financially difficult for some families.
“Say if someone wanted to become a dual enrollment student and they wanted to go to GBC, they would go through GEAR UP,” she said.
The selection process for the East Coast program was highly competitive. According to Marsh, representatives at Pahrump Valley High School first nominated standout dual enrollment students for consideration.
“People like Ms. Castillo and Mrs. Hagstrom at Pahrump Valley who represent GBC and GEAR UP nominate students who are good students in dual enrollment to go to this convention and campus visits,” Marsh explained. “I was one of four nominees.”
After being nominated locally, Marsh then completed a separate application process that was reviewed alongside submissions from students across Nevada schools participating in the program.
“I then submitted an application to a woman named Janna, and she selects from the list of applications coming in from all the other schools as well,” Marsh said.
Being chosen was an emotional and exciting moment for the PVHS junior.
“When I got the email, I was so excited I sort of jumped up from my chair,” Marsh said with a laugh. “I texted my parents immediately saying, ‘I got in!’ It was so much fun.”
For Marsh, the opportunity comes at an important time as she prepares for life after high school. As a current junior, the upcoming campus visits will provide valuable firsthand exposure to potential colleges and career pathways before she begins her senior year.
“I don’t think there’s a path after high school for me that doesn’t involve some higher education,” she said.
While Marsh has not fully settled on a future career path, she already has several areas of interest she hopes to continue exploring through college.
“I’m interested in going into education, going into entrepreneurship, or some sort of engineering field,” she said. “Those are my main three right now.”
Though she laughed at how different those career paths may seem from one another, Marsh said she is excited to continue researching and discovering where her interests may ultimately lead her.
“It’s a lot,” she admitted. “But I’ll do my research.”
The experience also comes during a time of uncertainty for the future of the GEAR UP program itself. Marsh noted that funding for the program is currently being discussed at the state level, with decisions expected later this summer.
“There are rumors,” Marsh said regarding the possibility of GEAR UP ending after this year. “It is up to the state legislature to see how much funding they want to give GEAR UP and education as a whole. Currently, it’s up in the air.”
If funding were to end, Marsh explained that future students would still be able to participate in dual enrollment courses, though many would likely lose the financial support GEAR UP currently provides.
“Students can still do dual enrollment,” she said. “It just won’t be paid for.”
Marsh also emphasized the value and affordability of Great Basin College courses, noting that the program has provided a strong foundation for students beginning their college journey.
“They pride themselves on being the cheapest community college within the state of Nevada,” Marsh said. “And their courses are just like any other college I would expect, so they’re good.”
As Marsh prepares for the upcoming trip this summer, she said she is eager not only for the college visits themselves, but also for the opportunity to meet and learn alongside students from across the state and beyond.
The experience represents a major achievement for the PVHS junior and highlights the opportunities available to students willing to challenge themselves academically while taking advantage of programs designed to support higher education and leadership development.
