Fremont High School / Magnet

Myetta McCoy holds two master’s degrees from National University – one in business administration and another in education.

“I enjoy assisting families, working with others with common goals, and promoting positive outcomes. Helping others is how we help ourselves. Every day is a chance to bring about a better future.”

Alejandra Vera – who was a teacher for over 20 years before becoming a counselor – is a graduate of Paramount High School. She holds a bachelor’s in business management and Spanish with a minor in Hispanic business from Loyola Marymount University.

“GEAR UP has provided me the opportunity to work collaboratively with others who strongly believe in students achieving their dreams while overcoming obstacles and building their resiliency.”

Nathalie Banos, a native of South Gate, earned a bachelor’s from Cal State Fullerton. She plans to pursue a graduate degree in counseling.

“I like connecting with students and seeing how resilient they are and how hard they are willing to work to achieve their dreams. Not only do I get to connect with them, but I am also able to connect with their parents and guide them on how to help their children succeed in their education.”

Shon Croom graduated from Manual Arts High and received bachelor’s degrees in English and sociology from UC Riverside.

“A young person should be allowed the creativity to come up with their own destination. They just need resources and a plan so they can put it in action, and that’s exactly what I get to be a part of with GEAR UP.”

Ruben Lopez was born and raised in Los Angeles and graduated from Wilson High School, where he was an Occidental College Upward Bound student and worked as a resident tutor. He holds a bachelor’s in history from UC Santa Barbara.

“Being able to talk about my experiences in college and help students navigate their academic goals is something that I am really passionate about. Being an Oxy Upward Bound student during high school was extremely beneficial and truly made college a reality for me and my family. I am glad to be able to continue this line of work with GEAR UP 4 LA and continue making post-secondary education a reality for students.”