Earlier this week, Loara High School proudly unveiled its long-awaited College Wall, a vibrant mural now featured along the Library wall near The Mace student store and thrift shop.
The idea for the mural began two years ago when Mr. Gary Brown envisioned a way to strengthen Loara’s college-going culture. With the collaboration and support of Des Montes, our GEAR UP Coordinator and GEAR UP, a Cal State Fullerton program dedicated to helping students prepare for college, his vision has now become a reality.
GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) is a federally funded initiative designed to increase college awareness, readiness, and success for students in underserved communities. At Loara, GEAR UP has provided resources, workshops, campus visits, and guidance to ensure that every student has the tools and knowledge to pursue higher education.
The mural celebrates the wide range of college opportunities available to Saxons while honoring Loara seniors as they make their postsecondary decisions. Surrounding the bold mural lettering are frames that will feature photos of seniors proudly holding the pennant of the college they have committed to.
This project not only symbolizes Loara’s dedication to building a strong college-going culture but also serves as a living tribute to each graduating class and their academic achievements. It is a daily reminder to students that college is within reach—and that their dreams matter.