Schools
7 Douglas Students Sign REACH Scholarship Agreements
The students earn college scholarships if they maintain good grades, stay out of trouble and meet with a mentor through high school.
DOUGLASVILLE, GA — Seven Douglas County schools students have signed deals that will earn them college scholarships if they continue to do well through high school.
The eighth-graders became part of Georgia's REACH (Realizing Educational Achievement Can Happen) program, which features a needs-based scholarship designed to promote academic success and expand access to higher education to more students.
"Signing Day" for the program was Thursday, Oct. 5
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REACH is designed to open doors for students who may not get to go to college because of finances, said Mitzi Teal, executive director of Communities In Schools of Douglas County, which coordinates the program.
"As a part of the program, the students signed contracts to maintain a certain grade point average, remain crime, drug, and behavior issue free and meet with a volunteer mentor until they graduate from high school," Teal said.
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Parents or guardians also sign a contract to support their student throughout their education.
When students in the program graduate, they receive up to a $10,000 scholarship — $2,500 a year for up to four years — which can be used at HOPE-eligible Georgia two or four-year colleges and universities.
Many colleges match the scholarship and some double-match it, Teal said.
"Douglas County Schools is honored to have been selected as one of the REACH school systems to participate in the REACH Georgia Program for the 2017-2018 school year and thereafter,” said Douglas County Schools Superintendent Trent North. "We appreciate the community, civic and corporate leaders for helping us recognize the seven deserving 8th grade students who will serve as our 2017 REACH Scholars and join the 30 other students from the last four cohorts started in 2012."
The Douglas County REACH scholars for 2017-18 include Maegan Davis, Makaylee Gilley, Daisy Ixmay, Elizabeth Romero and Alan Martinez.
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Photo courtesy Douglas County Schools
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