Four Beacon Hill Middle School eighth graders earned REACH Georgia Scholarships, a scholarship designed to support students through high school graduation and provide tuition assistance for college.
Students Londyn Battle, Jayda Burton, Jayla Callender, and Marionna Crayton won the REACH (Realizing Educational Achievement Can Happen) Georgia Scholarship, which works with teachers and school counselors to identify rising eighth-grade students with financial need who have demonstrated positive academic, attendance, and behavioral efforts. REACH scholars pair with a mentor who will support them throughout high school, after which scholars receive a $10,000 scholarship to attend a Georgia college, university, or technical school.
City Schools of Decatur’s REACH scholars signed their REACH Scholar commitment letters on Nov. 15 in a ceremony at Beacon Hill that included Superintendent Gyimah Whitaker, members of the board of education, school and district leaders, State Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver, and members of the students’ families. Two former CSD REACH Scholars, now both attending college, offered words of encouragement to the new REACH scholars.
“The people in this room are all so proud of you, and we are here to support you,” said Whitaker. “You represent the potential and payoff of hard work, and I encourage you to use all the resources our schools have to offer on your path to success in school and beyond.”
Funding for the scholarships is provided by the Decatur Education Foundation (DEF). REACH Scholars will also receive academic and social support to help them fulfill the requirements of the scholarships, which include earning a 2.5 GPA or higher throughout high school and maintaining good attendance and behavior.
“This is an easy yes for the Decatur Education Foundation,” said Meagan Berardi, executive director of DEF. “This is an investment in our students and their future.”
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