Firefly Digital
Firefly Digital stands among the pioneers of the digital marketing era. For 18 years our firm has combined brilliant marketing, dazzling creative and powerful technology to provide clients with comprehensive digital marketing solutions.
Since the founding of our firm in 1998, we have gained an unprecedented level of experience and expertise in everything from website development to traditional advertising and marketing, PR, mobile marketing, social media – virtually any and every type of marketing imaginable.
At Firefly we bring every aspect of modern marketing together to lead your business to the forefront of your specific marketplace. We lead from the front because we were there at the beginning of the digital age – and we will put our vast experience to work in getting your business where it needs to be. We can handle almost any type of project – large or small – tailored to any type of industry. We provide premium services of the absolute highest quality, because we believe our clients deserve the best possible results and return on investment.
Take a look at our portfolio and we’re sure you’ll agree that our work is exceptional. We have worked with numerous prominent clients as well as smaller companies – and we would love the opportunity to lead your business to the forefront as well.
Contact us today to learn how Firefly Digital can give your business the spark you need to truly succeed.
GEAR UP has worked with Firefly Digital to provide a quality website so that students and parents alike may be able to quickly and easily get access to the information they need.
USGS National Wetlands Research Center
The Wetland and Aquatic Research Center (WARC) conducts relevant and objective research, develops new approaches and technologies, and disseminates scientific information needed to understand, manage, conserve, and restore wetlands and other aquatic and coastal ecosystems and their associated plant and animal communities throughout the Nation and the Southeast.
USGS National Wetlands Research Center partners with Lafayette GEAR UP to provide teachers and staff with a state of the art facility for professional development and to provide students with an opportunity to learn about careers in science.
University of Louisiana at Lafayette Alumni Center
The mission of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette Alumni Association is to promote good fellowship among alumni; to strengthen the ties of loyalty and devotion of alumni to their alma mater; and to, at all times, further the interests of the institution.
The University of Louisiana at Lafayette Alumni Center provides Lafayette GEAR UP with a beautiful meeting facility for events and meetings on the historic grounds of The University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
The University of Louisiana at Lafayette is the second-largest university in Louisiana, with over 19,000 students, and offer bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees. The offerings range from the humanities to hard sciences, and they are among the nation’s leaders in areas such as computer science, environmental biology, and nursing. They are among the top 180 universities in the United States in research and development expenditures.
The University of Louisiana at Lafayette is our premier postsecondary partner. They provide enrichment activities to our students through summer camps, Saturday Universities, college tours, and special programs, allowing them the opportunity to have college experiences with professors and students to help them prepare for college.
United Way of Acadiana
United Way of Acadiana is creating lasting change by focusing on the building blocks of a good life: Education, Earnings, and Essentials. We all win when a child succeeds in school, when families are financially stable and when neighbors meet their own basic needs. Together, we can all LIVE UNITED!
Our Mission: To unite people and organizations with passion, expertise and resources to create more opportunities for a better life.
Our Vision: An educated, prosperous and safe Acadiana where all individuals and families achieve their potential.
UWA partners with Lafayette GEAR UP to support programs in our schools which help to develop our students’ learning and leadership qualities The Leader In Me program has been implemented and supported in all six GEAR UP middle schools. UWA also provides leadership training opportunities to teachers, administrators, and staff.
Texas Instruments Inc.
For more than 30 years, TI has been an active member of classrooms around the world, empowering teachers and inspiring students to succeed in mathematics and science. Through our calculators, coaching and classroom resources, TI Education Technology is transforming the way teachers teach and students learn STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects. With award-winning products, engaging lessons, real-time assessment and top-notch professional development, TI is leading the way in mathematics and science education.
Research is the foundation for making TI solutions an essential component of student achievement. TI provides educators, schools and districts with a wealth of research and funding resources. TI provides valuable information on national and state standards in mathematics and science, as well as TI classroom-ready activities aligned to them.
Texas Instruments partners with Lafayette GEAR UP to provide cutting edge tools to enhance learning in STEM areas. The company provides professional development and coaching for teachers and staff to teach them to effectively use the tools in their classrooms.
SWLAHEC – Southwest Louisiana Area Health Education Center
The mission of the Southwest Louisiana Area Health Education Center (SWLAHEC) is to improve health status through access to information, education and health services. SWLAHEC seeks to improve health through numerous programs focusing on two main areas: 1) recruiting and educating health professionals and 2) educating the public on how to live healthier lives.
SWLAHEC provides health career education opportunities to Lafayette GEAR UP students through Saturday Universities, with past topics including Nursing and Veterinary Exploration.
SLCC - South Louisiana Community College
South Louisiana Community College is one of Louisiana’s largest, most comprehensive community colleges. Academic offerings today include technical diplomas, workforce training, high school dual enrollment and two-year degree programs that transfer to four-year universities.
SLCC, established in 1997, was created as a public, two-year institution of higher learning with campuses in Lafayette and New Iberia. Upon its inception, SLCC was a member of the University of Louisiana System. In 1999, it joined other community and technical colleges in the state as part of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System. The mission of the LCTCS is to improve the quality of life of the state’s citizens through educational programs offered through its colleges. LCTCS strives to increase the opportunities for Louisiana’s workforce to succeed through skills training programs. And, it works to provide citizens the opportunity to learn continuously. LCTCS is committed to teaching what is needed, when it is needed, and where it is needed within available resources.
SLCC partners with Lafayette GEAR UP to offer students an opportunity to experience college readiness through activities such as: staff assistance at College Application Days, Summer Camps, Saturday Universities, Financial Aid nights, and Campus Tours.
Smithsonian
Founded in 1846, the Smithsonian is the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex, consisting of 19 museums and galleries, the National Zoological Park, and nine research facilities. A steward and ambassador of cultural connections, the Smithsonian’s work promotes understanding of world cultures. Education is at the core of our mission as a laboratory for learning and innovation. The Smithsonian’s collections represent our nation’s rich heritage, art from across the globe, and the immense diversity of the natural and cultural world.
The Smithsonian Institute has partnered with Lafayette GEAR UP and provides us with “Scholars in the Schools” Program, in which Smithsonian educators and scientists personally conduct interactive presentations for students in our classrooms twice a year.
Quantum Learning
Since 1982, Quantum Learning has impacted more than 100,000 educators and millions of students around the world. They bring years of experience—and years of results—to every student and teacher program they lead.
Quantum Learning has partnered with Lafayette GEAR UP to provide motivating professional development and materials to teachers to promote excellence in teaching.
NCCEP – National Council for Community and Education Partnerships
The National Council for Community and Education Partnerships (NCCEP) is a national non-profit, non-partisan organization working to increase access to higher education for economically disadvantaged students. Confident that education paves the way to social equity, NCCEP advances college access through advocacy, training, and research.
To fulfill this mission, NCCEP establishes community-education partnerships, strengthens research-based college access programs, promotes sound federal public policy and develops tools and resources to provide educational opportunities for all students.
NCCEP and Lafayette GEAR UP work together to advocate for funding in education. NCCEP creates a network of educators who learn and share their successes to help every child overcome the challenges that may prevent him/her from reaching their dreams.
Mastery Prep
MasteryPrep is the leading provider of professional development for the ACT.2 MasteryPrep has helped hundreds of thousands of educators, administrators, and students improve their schools’ standardized test outcomes. MasteryPrep’s entire focus is to help principals and educators provide their students with high-quality test preparation and resources.
Lafayette GEAR UP and MasteryPrep have formed a partnership to equip the students of LPSS with the tools needed to prepare for and excel on ACT tests. Through this partnership, students will receive a more comprehensive content and a better understanding of testing strategies.
LUMCON – Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium
The Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium (LUMCON) was formed in 1979 to increase society’s awareness of the environmental, economic and cultural value of Louisiana’s coastal and marine environments by conducting research and education programs directly relevant to Louisiana’s needs in marine science and coastal resources and serving as a facility for all Louisiana schools with interest in marine research and education.
LUMCON and Lafayette GEAR UP work together to provide students with an educational experience in which students become scientists. Through field and laboratory activities, students develop lasting impressions about making a positive impact on their environment and community, and are exposed to career awareness in the field.
LSU AgCenter Research & Extension
The LSU AgCenter’s mission is to provide the people of Louisiana with research-based educational information that will improve their lives and economic well-being. The LSU AgCenter includes the Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station, which conducts agricultural-based research, and the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service, which extends the knowledge derived from research to the people of the state. The LSU AgCenter plays an integral role in supporting agricultural industries, enhancing the environment, and improving the quality of life through its 4-H youth, family and consumer sciences, and community development programs.
LSU-AgCenter provides Lafayette GEAR UP students with experiences to develop awareness of agricultural-based careers, increase knowledge of healthy nutrition and physical activity benefits, and to develop independence skills through programming offered to students.
LOSFA – Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance
The Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOSFA) is a Program under the Louisiana Board of Regents, administering the state’s scholarship and grant programs and the state’s Internal Revenue Code Section 529 college savings program. Among the programs administered by LOSFA are Louisiana’s premier merit-based scholarship program, the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS), the state’s 529 college savings plan, the Student Tuition Assistance and Revenue Trust (START) program, and the Rockefeller State Wildlife Scholarship program.
Mission: To Promote and Provide College Access
Philosophy: Education is the door to a productive and satisfying life for the citizens of Louisiana and is an essential ingredient for a healthy economy and a capable and motivated workforce. Financial assistance opens that door.
LOSFA annually provides presenters for individual high school financial aid workshops for parents and students. They have partnered GEAR UP in helping LPSS to help create a college-going culture by supporting College Application Month in October of each year.
LITE – Louisiana Immersive Technologies Enterprise
Louisiana Immersive Technologies Enterprise (LITE) is the world’s first and only data visualization facility created as a public/private partnership. Located in the Research Park of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, LITE is a political subdivision of the State of Louisiana, and is governed by a board of commissioners.
GOALS:
Tech: To transform the business community through virtual and emerging technology
Talent: To cultivate innovative thought-leaders who want to use technology to do things differently
Trade (Economic Development): To make Lafayette the world’s premier destination for technology-based businesses
LITE provides Lafayette GEAR UP with a state of the art facility to host various types of events and activities for our GEAR UP cohort.
The Leader in Me
The Leader in Me is Franklin Covey’s whole school transformation process. It teaches 21st century leadership and life skills to students and creates a culture of student empowerment based on the idea that every child can be a leader.
Lafayette GEAR UP partners with Franklin Covey to provide this life-changing program in our schools in order to help build leadership cultures.
LAGCOE – Louisiana Gulf Coast Oil Exposition
LAGCOE is a nonprofit energy industry organization focused on educational programs and a technical exposition & conference. LAGCOE’s mission is to cultivate economic growth of the energy industry by facilitating domestic & global business development and fostering the energy workforce pipeline. LAGCOE’s vision is to be a robust, sustainable community of energy companies and volunteers that promotes energy education and awareness, connects businesses with opportunities, and showcases the Gulf Coast’s technical innovations to the world.
LAGCOE has been known for more than 60 years now for the world class exposition that takes place in Lafayette, Louisiana every two years. We are proud of that because it continues to shine a light on south Louisiana as a key global player in the oil and gas industry.
LAGCOE partners with Lafayette GEAR UP to provide our students with career education and experiences in the oil and gas industry, with exciting interactive displays, virtual training simulators, educational resources, and a mobile oilfield learning unit.
Lafayette Schools Credit Union
Since 1954, Lafayette Schools Credit Union has been dedicated to providing the best value in banking. You can count on them for personal service and solutions that fit every stage of your life and financial goals. No matter where the future takes you, your credit union membership lasts a lifetime.
Our Mission
Securing your future by delivering affordable financial solutions, education and personal service with compassion and integrity.
Lafayette Schools Credit Union works with Lafayette GEAR UP to provide financial planning education and tools to families through Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University program.
Lafayette Parish School System
The Lafayette Parish School System in collaboration with stakeholders is committed to developing productive citizens prepared to compete in a global community.
Even though LPSS is the organization to which the GEAR UP Grant was awarded, they are still considered a partner to the GEAR UP program. The GEAR UP program works collaboratively with LPSS to provide resources, academic support, and unique experiences to students in the GEAR UP cohort.
Frank's International
Frank’s International provides funding to enhance Robotics programs in our schools.
EduGuide
EduGuide became a GEAR UP partner to support the goals of the grant which seek to arm students with the academic and social-emotional qualities that will allow them to be successful in postsecondary.
Cox Communications
Supporting educational initiatives is one of the ways they make a difference for their employees, their children, and their business. By using technology, Cox can enhance the educational experience build a more level playing field for all families and invest in long-term community success.
Cox Communications works with Lafayette GEAR UP to provide internet and devices to qualifying families, and to provide volunteer opportunities to students.
Cayen Systems
Cayen Systems is a national K-12 Program Management & Compliance Software Specialist firm and has earned a reputation as the foremost experts in software designed to specifically support the requirements of a variety of K-12 management programs. Our software improves operational administration, increases reporting accuracy, helps manage government reporting compliance, and improves school district communication.
Cayen enables Lafayette GEAR UP to maintain vital data on all GEAR UP students, teachers, and parents to track and prove effectiveness of grant objectives.
Boy Scouts of America – Evangeline Area Council
The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Scout Law.
Boy Scouts of America – Evangeline Area Council and Lafayette GEAR UP work collaboratively to provide leadership experiences for GEAR UP students in order to build grit and character.
Becky Kramer/Rebacon
Becky Kramer works with Lafayette GEAR UP to provide training which help to increase employee performance, efficiency, leadership skills, communication skills, teambuilding, and many other skills.
All Aboard Tours
The focus of the All Aboard Tours & Travel LLC College Tour Program is to bring first-generation college bound students to a college campus to increase early college awareness. Campus visits effectively provide transition activities that will help students prepare for and succeed in postsecondary education. Their partnership will expose students to a full range of college preparatory tools including student enrichment activities and preparedness training. Students are provided them with critically needed educational and comprehensive support services to help them make the most important decision of their lives. Students and parents will be involved in obtaining information regarding the benefits of a college education, enrollment requirements and financial aid necessary in the planning stages of attending college or university. All Aboard Tours & Travel provides Scholarship Opportunities and Special Promotions as well as INKIND Services to secure the success of the program.
GEAR UP has worked with All Aboard Tours to provide quality learning experiences while touring college campuses around the state of Louisiana and out of state.
CGI
CGI has partnered with Lafayette GEAR UP to give students a taste of the digital world and allow them to explore IT careers up close and personal. CGI members have created unique learning experiences that challenge students to think creatively and analytically. CGI has also created a space for GEAR UP students to work beside them on projects with the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility Team.
Acadiana Open Channel
AOC partners with Lafayette GEAR UP to provide students with career exploration in media through summer camp and Saturday University experiences.
Acadiana Center for the Arts
The Acadiana Center for the Arts (AcA) is the central hub of Acadiana with a mission of fostering art and culture in Acadiana. AcA serves the entire region in all aspects of cultural work and connects to most aspects of cultural life in Acadiana: through community development & grant making featuring five individual programs; through arts education, serving 30,000+ kids in a partnership with our school system; through outreach & residencies; by creating public art corridors; by producing 40+ annual visual arts exhibits and monthly ArtWalks – free to the community; and through the 150+ annual events at AcA featuring every genre of the performing arts.
AcA is a nationally renowned education center and has been a Kennedy Center Partner for over 20 years. We work extensively in the area of artist services, and it is our mission to support artists in their ability to live full lives and have professional careers which we support through local, state-wide and national advocacy.
In 2016 AcA won the Lt Governor’s Louisiana Culture Award as Outstanding Arts Organization.
Acadiana Center for the Arts has been a GEAR UP partner since 2008, providing a vehicle for students to develop creative talent and explore career opportunities in the arts by offering summer arts intensive camps, Saturday Universities and the arts career showcase.
