Smiling faces, lots of applause, laughter, and even a few happy tears flowed on Tuesday afternoon as five students and their families celebrated signed commitments for a college scholarship at the Rome High School College and Career Academy.
Five Rome Middle School students and their parents signed the commitments signifying their enrollment in the Realizing Educational Achievement Can Happen (REACH) Georgia Scholarship program.
The students, Ra’Naj Acker, Roxana Baltazar Manuel, Sophie Cantrell, Jadence Hall, and Aubrie Gordon, were all selected for the $10,000 REACH Georgia Scholarship. The scholarship is Georgia’s first need-based mentorship and college scholarship program.
The commitment signed by students and partners states students will meet regularly with their academic coach and community mentor, keep their grades up, and refrain from truancy and disciplinary action. Students who complete the program requirements receive a $10,000 scholarship to be used towards the cost of attendance at one of 79 HOPE-eligible public and private colleges and universities in Georgia.
“These outstanding young scholars are part of the sixth cohort of REACH Scholars since Rome City Schools joined the REACH program in 2019. We had our first four REACH graduates to complete the program in May 2024, " Jennifer Perkins, RCS Director of Assessment and Innovative Learning, said. “We applaud this year’s scholars and thank our donors Atrium Health Floyd and Oglethorpe Power and volunteer mentors for their commitment to the success of Rome City Schools students.”
The REACH Georgia Scholarship is 90 percent funded by the state and 10 percent funded through private fundraising at the local level. Since the REACH program’s inception in 2012, more than 5,000 Georgia students have been identified as REACH Scholars and more than $50 million has been committed to their education.
“REACH Georgia identifies students from underserved communities who demonstrate academic persistence and pairs them with the educational, social, and financial support needed to graduate high school and excel in college,” Justin Gargala, REACH Georgia Executive Director, said. “REACH has served every city and county public school system in the state. As of Fall 2024, we have graduated eight high school classes of REACH Georgia Scholars.”
Perkins serves on the Rome City Schools REACH Committee along with Rome Middle Assistant Principal Kristin Hall, Rome High Counselors Daniell Love and Tron Sockwell as well as Communities in Schools Executive Director Greg Wooten.