Six Griffin-Spalding County School System (GSCS) eighth-grade students were named recipients of a $10,000 REACH Georgia Scholarship during a special signing day ceremony. The scholarships were presented during a luncheon sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Griffin on Wednesday, November 1.
REACH (Realizing Educational Achievement Can Happen) Georgia's mission is to ensure that Georgia's low-income, academically promising students have the academic, social, and financial support needed to graduate from high school, access college and achieve postsecondary success.
REACH Georgia scholars are selected in middle school and sign a contract along with their parent/guardian to maintain a 2.5 GPA, remain crime, drug and behavior issue free and meet with a volunteer mentor and academic coach until they graduate from high school. Each scholar who completes all program requirements will receive the $10,000 that was earmarked to him/her in the eighth grade. Each student will receive $2,500 per year, for up to four years to be used towards the cost of attending a two or four-year REACH Georgia program eligible institution of their choosing.
The GSCS 2023 REACH Georgia Scholars are:
• Madison Cutter– Kennedy Road Middle School
• Elijah Gray – Carver Road Middle School
• Jayden Leonard – Kennedy Road Middle School
• Trinity Pitts Gray – Cowan Road Middle School
• Sayla Smith - Carver Road Middle School
• Hailey Wells – Rehoboth Road Middle School
The students along with their parents signed scholarship commitment forms, similar to an athletic scholarship signing day, before GSCS Superintendent Dr. Keith Simmons, their school principals, school counselors, GSCS cabinet members, sponsors, elected officials and Kiwanis Club members.
Local investments were made for each scholarship by Chick-Fil-A of Griffin, Brightmoor Hospice, Kiwanis Club of Griffin, Marukan Vinegar and Rotary Club of Griffin.
This is the seventh cohort for the REACH Program at GSCS and they are anticipated to graduate from Griffin and Spalding high schools in 2028.
GSCS Superintendent Dr. Keith Simmons stated, “This is a really big deal! I am grateful for the partnerships of the schools, parents and students to ensure that they have the conditions and supports necessary to be selected and stay committed. I am also thankful to the community partners who demonstrated their belief in these students and this program by the contributions that they have made. This is a great day for Griffin-Spalding County and an even bigger day for these six families. I look forward to seeing where their journey will take them not only through their high school years but beyond.”