REACH Georgia Scholarship
REACH Georgia is a needs-based mentoring and scholarship program designed to ensure that the state’s academically promising students have the academic, social, and financial support needed to graduate from high school and complete college. Bulloch County is one of five school systems that the state initially selected to pilot the program. The Georgia Student Finance Corporation holds the scholarships for scholars until they graduate from high school.
More than 63 colleges and universities in Georgia have agreed to double-match and some triple-match these scholarships. All funds raised (100 percent) for REACH Georgia locally go to future recipients.
Bulloch County’s 2013 through 2017 scholars now have a combined total of $500,000 invested in their education in addition to any other scholarships them may receive. Our REACH Georgia scholars are successful middle school and high school students who work hard to annually meet the program's rigorous academic, attendance, and behavior criteria. Each November the school system names five additional REACH Scholars
Eligible students must meet the following requirements: (1) be currently be in the eighth grade at a participating, eligible Georgia middle school; (2) demonstrate financial need; (3) have legal status in the U.S. (U.S. citizen or legal resident); (4) have and agree to maintain above average attendance and behavior; (5) have grade reports reflecting minimum grades of 75 or better in each core course (2.5 GPA); (6) have and agree to maintain a crime-free and drug-free record; and (7) have the support of a parent, legal guardian, or other committed adult.
As a pilot school system, BCS was originally awarded a total of ten $10,000 scholarships by the state. As a participating school system, Bulloch County Schools had to identify a local corporate sponsor to continue the program. In Bulloch County, the Bulloch County Foundation for Public Education is currently the sole sponsor that keeps this program active in our community. The Foundation donates $7,500 ($1,500 per student) to help fund the $10,000 base scholarships. You can help in this effort by contributing to the Foundation, supporting its fundraisers or by becoming a corporate sponsor of the program. Donations are tax deductible.
Note: REACH Georgia scholars are selected in their eighth-grade year, so their Bulloch County cohort relates to that year, not their graduation year. Scholars must maintain consistent eligibility throughout their five years in the program. Scholars may be added or removed from a cohort if they are either a REACH scholar who transferred into our school system from another public school district, or if they are a scholar within our school district who became ineligible.
Keith Wilkey, Director
School Social Work
912.212.8883
Administrative Assistant
912.212.8560
