Clarke County celebrates 2024 REACH Scholars
Five middle school students from the Clarke County School District were recently named REACH Scholars, which awards students a $10,000 scholarship to any HOPE-eligible institution in Georgia after high school graduation. Additionally, scholars are paired with mentors and academic coaches for all four years of high school.
The new 2024 REACH Georgia Scholars are Natalia Calderon-Salazar and Kimberly Trigueros from Coile Middle School. These Two students tied for the overall top district score. Inza Kamagate from Burney-Harris-Lyons Middle School, Shacori Griffith from Clarke Middle School and Khloe Brown from Hilsman Middle School are the other three scholarship recipients.
“I am looking forward to the journey that I will take as I maintain my grades and learn how to further discipline myself,” Kamagate said.
The REACH Scholarship (Realizing Educational Achievement Can Happen) is a needs-based scholarship program that provides students with mentoring, educational, and financial assistance to support their journey through high school and beyond.
“When they first introduced the idea of being a REACH scholar, I was like this is my chance so I planned my application draft to my best abilities for a whole week making sure that I was honest as possible and there were no spelling errors,” Griffith said.
The five 2024 REACH Georgia Scholars were nominated by their counselors and teachers in the beginning of 8th grade, based on grades, attendance and behavior.
HARD WORK PAID OFF: REACH scholar Inza Kamagate alongside his family and school; administration pose for a portrait. “We were told to dress to impress and there was a panel of interviewers who asked us questions such as, “What will you study in college?”,” Kamagate said. Photo from Clarke County School District
“Through that process I learned that you shouldn’t doubt yourself and you have to trust in the Lord and not lose faith because it doesn’t matter what happens in the past, it’s all about what you do in the future,” Griffith said.
REACH Scholars must maintain good attendance, behavior, and at least a 2.5 grade point average throughout high school. After students complete the program and graduate from high school, students earn a $10,000 scholarship. Certain schools will match or even double match the scholarship, increasing the amount they can earn up to $30,000.
“We are proud of and excited for each of these students on this achievement and the tremendous opportunity ahead for them and their families,” CCSD Superintendent Dr. Robbie Hooker said in a press release.
