Last month, hundreds of GEAR UP professionals, alumni, families, and students gathered in Washington, DC for the 2026 NCCEP/GEAR UP Annual Conference. This year's theme, Lighting The Way, showed up in the keynotes, the students who took the stage, and the leaders whose work continues to guide the GEAR UP movement forward.

The conference brought together over 1,900 attendees from 43 states, with more than 130 concurrent sessions.

Powerful Keynotes That Sparked New Thinking

Three plenary speakers offered their take on what it means to light the way for students. Baruti Kafele opened with Leadership is a Beacon, on how strong leadership provides clarity during change. Dr. David Yeager followed with Cracking the Code: What Science Says About Motivating Students, sharing evidence-based strategies for connecting with students. Julia Freeland Fisher closed the lineup with The Power of Connection: Unlocking Student Networks and Social Capital.

As one attendee put it: "Julia Freeland Fisher was amazing — she presented the research and science behind our work in a way that really stuck with me."

A Standing Ovation for the Youth Leadership Summit

No conference moment captures the spirit of GEAR UP quite like the Youth Leadership Summit Presentation. Students spent days preparing, and the result left the room inspired. As an attendee from Indiana shared, "This was my first conference, and I really enjoyed the Youth Leadership Summit. It was good to hear the kids and see all of the work they put into the conference themselves."

Celebrating Our 2026 Leadership Award Winners

Each year, we recognize the people whose leadership moves the GEAR UP movement forward. Andrew Bramson (Onward We Learn) and Andrea González Sotelo (Arizona GEAR UP) shared the title of Professional Leader of the Year for their statewide work expanding college access. Santa Guadalupe Balderas was named Family Leader of the Year for her path from a GEAR UP-earned teaching certification to serving students with Mission CISD. Michaela Subido Ceja, a UC Santa Barbara graduate and VP of the GEAR UP Alumni Association, was named Alum Leader of the Year. And Aneta "Nettie" Morse, who helped found Vermont's GEAR UP Leads, was named Student Leader of the Year.

Sessions Built By and For GEAR UP Professionals

Attendees spent the week in sessions covering career readiness, case management, expenditure processes, and family engagement. A few standouts: Career & College Clubs: Students in Action, where students themselves led the activity and shared how the program has shaped their lives; From Classroom to Community: Designing Real-World Learning for Business Pathways; and Launching a GEAR UP Ambassadors Program: Lessons from a Small Rural Community. Time and again, attendees told us the same thing: learning directly from other GEAR UP programs was what made the week worthwhile.

Ready for What's Next?

The energy from this year's conference doesn't have to end in Washington, DC. Whether it's exploring Study Lab courses, joining a Learning Lab, or by leading beyond your program through one of NCCEP’s Advisory committees, there are so many ways to keep lighting the way for your students all year long.

We can't wait to see you in Las Vegas next July for our 2027 annual conference!

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