Five Oglethorpe County Middle School eighth-graders received the REACH Georgia Scholarship, a prestigious award offering financial support and mentorship through high school.
Five Oglethorpe County Middle School eighth-graders took an important step toward the future on Friday morning as they became the newest recipients of the REACH Georgia Scholarship.
This year’s scholars — Silas Judson, Nevaeh Perry, Elizabeth Randolph, Eh Way and Haleigh York — signed their contracts during a ceremony at OCMS, surrounded by families, teachers and classmates.
REACH (Realizing Educational Achievement Can Happen) is an award that offers both financial support and long-term mentorship through high school. It comes with a $10,000 check for their college education.
The moment carries significant weight, OCMS Principal Mack Baldwin said.
“It’s very special for all the students and their families,” he said. “It’s a great kickoff to their educational career beyond public schooling and into post-secondary and college pursuits.”
Haleigh York said the scholarship changes what’s possible for her future.
“It means a lot because I’ll be able to afford to go to college,” she said, “because otherwise I wouldn't be able to afford it.”
She hopes to attend Athens Technical College to pursue nursing.
Elizabeth Randolph said she felt a mix of excitement and disbelief.
“This is kind of surreal… I get $10,000, the giant check. It’s all really cool,” she said. Randolph wants to study microbiology at UGA and eventually become an infectious disease specialist.
For many families, the day represented years of effort and overcoming obstacles. Sheresa Judson, Silias’ mother, said her son’s progress has been dramatic.
“When he first started out in school, he did not like it,” Judson said. “They put him on red every single day, and now he’s in eighth grade, it’s like he’s done a complete 180. He's just doing big things.”
Before reaching this stage, students went through a rigorous, months-long selection process designed to identify those who would benefit most from the scholarship.
Baldwin said the process begins with teachers nominating students they believe “fit the mold.”
From there, he said the school applies eligibility guidelines related to family education background and financial factors, narrowing the list to about 20–25 students.
“They do part of the applications, teacher recommendations, community recommendations, and an essay, and then we have a team that looks through the essays, and they score it,” he said.
From there, the top 10 or 11 students move on to what Baldwin called the most challenging step: the interview panel.
Nevaeh Perry said the program is already encouraging her to push forward.
“It’s kind of like motivation to keep doing better with my grades and better behavior, something to push me more to go to college,” she said.
Her aunt, Shalynda Perry, said the recognition moved her deeply.
“It makes me feel so blessed, I’m crying all the way up here,” she said. “I’m so proud of her, I can’t wait to see (how) she grows.”