Amplifying Higher Ed Access with Oklahoma GEAR UP

For more than two decades, Oklahoma GEAR UP has worked inside rural and underserved schools to equip students with the tools and confidence to pursue higher education. As a state educational program under the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, its mission is to build college-going cultures where access and awareness are not guaranteed. For the past six years, spanning Grant IV and Grant V, Koch Comm has advanced that mission through integrated marketing campaigns designed to reach families across Oklahoma.

A Statewide Digital Strategy

While GEAR UP works face-to-face in schools, Koch Comm serves as its dedicated digital arm. Our team develops and executes each integrated marketing campaign, producing targeted paid and organic social media, landing pages, original blogs, branded podcasts, direct mail and periodic public relations. From FAFSA and College Basics to Oklahoma’s Promise, every initiative is strategically deployed with geotargeted messaging tailored to local audiences.

From Awareness to Action

Beyond campaign execution, Koch Comm partnered with GEAR UP to help establish accessibility guidelines that now inform every digital asset. We produced a statewide video testimonial series amplifying student, educator and community voices for public and legislative advocacy, while coordinated public relations efforts and strategically distributed postcards strengthened visibility during National GEAR UP Week and College App Week. These integrated touchpoints build statewide awareness and help generate hundreds of college applications across participating schools each year. To date, these campaign efforts have generated over 11 million impressions, and each semester our digital initiatives drive more than 10,000 website views and reach over half a million families across Oklahoma.

As Oklahoma GEAR UP continues to expand access to higher education across the state, Koch Comm is proud to amplify that mission as a strategic digital partner.