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It was a full house for the Tuesday night meeting of the Troup County School Board. The board recognized students and staff for their achievements before getting into business. 

There were four tables set up at the front of the room for a special signing. Four eighth-grade students were selected for the 2029 REACH Scholars cohort. REACH Georgia, “is a needs-based mentorship and scholarship program providing students with support to graduate from high school,” according to the program website. 

This year’s cohort, who will graduate in 2029, includes Xariah Graddy (Gardner Newman Middle School), who plans to attend Spelman College and major in a healthcare-related field; NaTavian Grissom (Gardner Newman Middle School), who wants to attend the University of Georgia; Bryan Bowen (Callaway Middle School), who also wants to attend UGA; and Arbadedius Crane (Long Cane Middle School), who wants to attend Yale, NYU or UGA. 

TCSS can select up to four students each year for the program. The System receives financial support from private donors, who contribute $1,000 to the REACH Foundation for each scholar selected. The REACH Foundation is administered by the Georgia Student Finance Commission.

The cohort members are paired with mentors with whom they meet weekly. To continue in the program, they must also meet with an academic coach monthly. Other requirements include maintaining an overall 2.5 grade point average, good attendance and behavior, and attending REACH events and meetings.

If the students meet these requirements and graduate from high school, the REACH Foundation will award each student a $10,000 scholarship to attend a Georgia HOPE-eligible college or university of their choice.

Other students honored were AP Scholars, those who received perfect scores on GMAS sections, Questbridge scholars and West Point Elementary students who got first place at the Fall STEM Challenge. 

The recognition period wrapped up with a check presentation to United Way of West Georgia. The system-wide campaign raised $56,462.13 for the organization. 

TSCC surpassed its goal of $50,000 for 2024 and its 2023 amount of $52,769.13.