5 Paulding Students Named Georgia REACH Scholars

DALLAS-HIRAM, GA — Five Paulding County students earn the opportunity to attend a Georgia college, university, or technical school nearly cost-free upon graduation and completion of the REACH Georgia Scholarship Program.

The 2021 REACH Georgia Scholars from Paulding are:

• Chayannah Aviles-Gonzalez from P.B. Ritch Middle School.
• Josce McCook from East Paulding Middle School.
• Alexander Notorfrancesco from South Paulding Middle School.
• Daniel Odugbemi from Herschel Jones Middle School.
• Lea Sosebee from Dobbins Middle School.

This cohort of REACH Georgia Scholars participating in a signing day ceremony Tuesday at the school district in front of their parents, school leaders and Paulding Education Foundation members.

The REACH Georgia Scholars were nominated by their counselors and teachers in the spring of their seventh-grade year, based on grades, attendance and behavior. After completing the application, students were interviewed, and then selected to join 19 other REACH Georgia Scholars already admitted into the program.

Through REACH Georgia, students are given academic and social support to ensure they graduate from high school and attain a college degree or certificate. Part of this support includes pairing each scholar with a mentor. Members of the community are asked to complete a background check and training, and then visit their mentee at school twice a month.

Upon successful program completion and high-school graduation, students earn a $10,000 scholarship ($2,500 each year) that can be used at a University System of Georgia, Technical College System of Georgia, or eligible private postsecondary institution. Certain schools will match or even double-match the scholarship, increasing the amount they can earn to $30,000.

Students can also qualify for other scholarships.

The 10-year-old program serves nearly 2,400 scholars in 154 school systems across Georgia, committing more than $24 million in scholarships.