REACH guidelines
Students in the REACH program must meet the following guidelines during high school:
- Overall 2.5-plus calculated GPA
- Good attendance and behavior
- Drug and crime free
- Meet with their mentor and academic coach
- Attend REACH events, meetings and programs
- Engage in activities to prepare for college
- Graduate from high school with a diploma
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Jimmyka Gresham (front row, from left), Damarcuse Harper, Gloria Hgay, Jeffrey Molina and Zachary Wilson, eighth-graders at Oglethorpe County Middle School, are the newest class of REACH scholars. They must abide by the contract to receive a $10,000 scholarship when they graduate high school. Behind them are principals of Oglethorpe Schools: Katie Baldwin (from left), primary and elementary schools; Mack Baldwin, middle school; Bill Sampson, high school. (Caleb Baldwin/The Oglethorpe Echo) -
“To me it is a really big thing. I just want to make a difference in the world and make my family proud,” said Damarcuse Harper. “It will make me think more, because I got a scholarship. I’m just glad I got an opportunity to go to college.” (Caleb Baldwin/The Oglethorpe Echo) -
“I love this school. And it's just such an honor to have this scholarship to be able to pay for college and everything,” said Jimmyka Gresham. “Just being yourself, smiling and being a happy and funny person can get you a lot of places.” (Caleb Baldwin/The Oglethorpe Echo) -
“I feel proud of myself and what I’ve accomplished to make it this far. My parents have always been supportive even when I’m stressed out with school or sports. I’ve learned being a leader is pretty important because if you have no leader everything could just fall apart and you need someone to lead you, ” said Jeffrey Molina. (Caleb Baldwin/The Oglethorpe Echo) -
“This scholarship has helped me start my career, my pathway. It's shown me that all the stuff, the challenges, that I've been through have put me where I am, in this position,” said Gloria Hgay. Hgay was recently featured in a Time magazine story about teen mental health. (Caleb Baldwin/The Oglethorpe Echo) -
“The scholarship means a lot to me. I’ve planned with dedication and hard work to get it, said Zachary Wilson. “I plan to honor it by getting good grades and staying out of trouble.” (Caleb Baldwin/The Oglethorpe Echo) -
Guest speaker, Otha Thornton, shakes the hand or REACH scholar, Jimmyka Gresham. Thornton told the five students to strive for excellence and set and accomplish goals throughout life to find success. (Caleb Baldwin/The Oglethorpe Echo)
The lives of five Oglethorpe County Middle School students were changed on Friday morning when they signed the REACH Georgia Scholarship Program contract, which will alter their next four years.
Eighth-graders Jimmyka Gresham, Damarcuse Harper, Gloria Hgay, Jeffrey Molina and Zachary Wilson were selected from the class of 2028 and become the fifth group of Oglethorpe County students to have this opportunity.
Students who follow the guidelines of the program during each year of high school will earn the maximum $2,500 per year scholarship, for a total of $10,000. This amount can be applied to any two- or four-year Georgia REACH eligible institution.
The selection process begins each year when over 30 students are nominated by seventh-grade teachers. These students then each turn in an essay and recommendations, which narrows the list to 12. The 12 students are then interviewed, resulting in the final five.
“It's tough for a 12- to 13-year-old to talk about themselves and go into an interview with three people they don't know; they were so nervous,” Superintendent Beverley Levine said. “But you know, they get to come out, and it's life changing for them."
Otha Thornton, the first Black male president of National PTA in 2013, was the guest speaker for the ceremony.
“Take the initiative: people look at that,” Thornton said to the students. “You take the initiative and doors will open for you. The path to success may not be easy, but the lessons you will learn are invaluable along the way.”
Students’ families praised those selected.
“She knows how to keep reaching beyond the opportunity and impact and things that affect her,” said Destiny Hunt, Gresham’s sister. “She knows how to go beyond that. She doesn’t let that affect her. She's strong.”
Family members also thanked the Oglethorpe County School System.
“In my life, I never had an education like here,” said Du Hgay, Gloria’s father. “I am from Burma, a poor country, and we did not have a lot of opportunities to go to a school like this. Here she has the opportunity to go to school and get a scholarship.”
Some recipients see the REACH scholarship as a new path to the future.
“Me siento orgulloso de que él quiera salir adelante. Tenemos mucha gracia a la escuela por la oportunidad que le están dando para un nuevo futuro,” said Ferdy Molina, Jeffrey’s father. “Creemos que siempre podemos enseñarle que tiene que ser humilde y ayudar a las demás personas.”
Translated to English, Molina said: “I feel proud that he wants to move forward. We have much thanks to the school for the opportunity they are giving him for a new future. We believe that we can always teach him that he has to be humble and help other people.”
Others placed the responsibility for the honor on the shoulders of their student.
“I’m very proud of him. He’s a hard worker and he definitely deserves this,” said Renee Wilson, Zachary’s mother. “He’s had great teachers who have really pushed him to be the best he can be. I encourage him to work hard, be himself and meet his goals.”
Middle school counselor Annie Murphy conducted the contract signing of the five students.
“It gives students who maybe didn't think that they would have that opportunity,” she said. “It provides the idea of higher education and opportunity to pursue it to more students. It kind of brings it more to reality.”
Oglethorpe County’s first REACH scholars are set to graduate next spring, but for these eighth-graders, the journey is just beginning.
“The real hard work gets going now,” Levine said. “We assign them a mentor to help keep them on track and just another positive adult in their life, to be able to keep up with them and make sure they stay on the straight and narrow.”