“These students are Georgia’s future,” said Rep. Marcus Wiedower, as four Oconee County Schools students received Realizing Educational Achievement Can Happen (REACH) Scholarships. This morning, students and their parents participated in a signing ceremony for each student to receive a $10,000 post-secondary scholarship as part of a public/private partnership between the State of Georgia and the Oconee community.

The REACH Georgia program is a needs-based scholarship designed to promote academic success and expand access to higher education. As a part of the program, students signed contracts to maintain a certain grade point average and to also meet with a volunteer mentor and academic coach until they graduate from high school. Parents or guardians signed contracts to support their child through this process. When these scholars graduate from high school, they will receive up to a $10,000 scholarship – $2,500 each year for up to four years – to be used at a HOPE-eligible Georgia two or four-year college. Many colleges are matching this scholarship and some are double matching the scholarship, providing scholars additional resources for their college education.

“Oconee County Schools is proud to launch the REACH Scholarship program in our community, which will expand post-secondary access for these deserving students,” said Superintendent Jason L. Branch. “I commend our inaugural REACH Scholars and wish them much success in their academic journeys."

The district’s four REACH Scholars are:

Zaniya Griffin – Oconee County Middle School

Kamryn Hill – Malcom Bridge Middle School

Grace LaCourte – Malcom Bridge Middle School

Parker Loudermilk – Oconee County Middle School