SSC GEAR UP staff promotions

Congratulations to SSC GEAR UP Director Julie Hix who was promoted to the Comptroller for the business office at Seminole State College recently. Julie began as the GEAR UP director in January 2014 and has provided stability and technological leadership for the GEAR UP program for eight and a half years. Julie was ahead of the curve with technology innovations as beginning the student services Tutor.Com, Student Success Agency, and a text messaging platform called Signalvine in the year 2019. The services provided students with tutoring and mentoring assistance and the text messaging platform enables GEAR UP and high school students and their parents to communicate about college and career activities and events 24/7. The services helped students stay focused on college and career readiness when the COVID-19 pandemic hit in March 2020.

Congratulations to GEAR UP student/parent coordinator Jonathan Bennett who was recently promoted to the GEAR UP Director position succeeding Julie Hix on July 14. For the past three years, Jonathan has served students at Asher, Holdenville, and Wetumka Public Schools. Jonathan is a graduate of Seminole High School and holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from East Central University in Ada. Jonathan was instrumental this past year by contacting the Oklahoma Regional Food Bank so students could volunteer and build their college resumes. Jonathan also worked in ensuring three Saturday college visits happened in 2021-22 at Southwestern Oklahoma State University, Northeastern State University, and Oklahoma University this last spring. Again congratulations to you both.