News Releases
Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - March 19, 2002
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Locke promotes education, economy and healthcare during Yakima visit

YAKIMA – Gov. Gary Locke today encouraged middle-school students to pursue higher education, touted job creation following passage of the capital budget and committed to finding long-term solutions for healthcare in communities of color.

The governor made his remarks during a daylong trip to Yakima that included events with Yakima sixth-graders, Yakima Valley Community College students and faculty, members of the Filipino-American community, the Foster Parents Association of Washington State and the Rural Community College Consortium - Hispanic Healthcare Initiative.

In a morning speech to 1,500 sixth-grade students at the Yakima Valley Sundome, Locke encouraged students to “GEAR UP” to pursue higher education, begin planning and preparing for college, and learn about the many post-secondary options available from higher education institutions.

“I’m sure you all know how important a college education is,” Locke told the students. “You know that you need it to be competitive for tomorrow’s jobs. You’ve heard that you will be able to earn much more money over your lifetime if you continue your studies beyond high school.”

“GEAR UP” is short for “Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs,” a national grant program created to address the barriers that students from low-income families face in preparing for higher education. Nationally, just 47 percent of low-income high school students enroll in college or a trade school, compared with 82 percent from higher-income families. The GEAR UP approach is to reach students early and to make sure they have access to the right preparatory courses for college.

“You need that college education to reach your big dreams,” the governor said. “Just as importantly, our state and our nation need you to believe in yourselves, study hard and commit to learning throughout your lives.”

Following his speech at the Sundome, Locke visited Yakima Valley Community College to inspect a nearly $20 million library project that will be completed as a result of passage of the state’s capital improvement program.

Locke then attended a meeting with the board of directors of the Foster Parents Association of Washington State to thank them for caring for abused and neglected children.

“I want to thank the social workers, child care providers, therapists and others who work on behalf of these children every day,” the governor said. “I especially want to express my gratitude to the individuals and families who take children into their homes.

“Foster parents form the foundation for the foster care system,” Locke continued. “Without you, these children would have no place to go, to mend and to develop into healthy, productive citizens. We will always owe you a debt of gratitude.”

The governor also joined members of the Filipino-American Community Hall of the Yakima Valley to celebrate the golden anniversary of their community center, the oldest Filipino-American Hall in the Pacific Northwest.

“Preserving our community halls is so important,” the governor said. “These halls are so much more than just physical buildings. They represent the beginning of relationships. They mean continuity from generation to generation. They provide a place for children to gather and be safe. And they preserve the rich heritage and culture that is part of all of you.”

At his final public meeting of the day, Locke held a roundtable discussion with the Rural Community College Consortium - Hispanic Healthcare Initiative. The governor requested the meeting to gain a greater understanding of the group’s initiatives and to encourage the participants to continue their endeavor.

“The healthcare industry not only plays a key role in our state’s economy, but also affects the quality of each of our lives,” Locke said. “The issues facing healthcare – the skills and diversity gaps – are issues facing every citizen.”

“At every level, from state government to individual communities, we need to continue our commitment to long-term solutions for healthcare and communities of color,” Locke concluded. “I will be watching this effort closely as it unfolds. I look to this effort and all of you to create models that we can apply across our state.”
Related Links:
- GEAR UP
- Washington State Higher Education Coordinating Board
- Washington Disadvantaged Students 'GEAR UP' for College
- Yakima Valley Community College
- Foster Parents Association of Washington State


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