Eight middle school students in Houston County have been named a Realizing Achievement Can Happen (REACH) Scholar and were awarded $10,000. The REACH Georgia program provides support for students with academic promise, to help them successfully progress from middle school through college, with a goal of earning a degree. The students will receive the scholarship funds upon high school graduation.

One student was selected from each of the District’s eight middle schools. The 2023 REACH Scholars are:

• Bonaire Middle: Charlie Nelson

• Feagin Mill Middle: Madison Miller

• Huntington Middle: Julian Mann

• Mossy Creek Middle: Ammon Holst

• Northside Middle: Alejandro Beas

• Perry Middle: Zakira Brown

• Thomson Middle: Zugey Alabat Castaneda

• Warner Robins Middle: Tatiana Carter

The REACH Scholarship program is designed to provide support for students by pairing them with an academic coach and mentor. Throughout enrollment in middle and high school, recipients will meet regularly with their academic coach and mentor. Meeting topics will include college and career planning, social interaction, life skills, study skills and academic supports available at school. Mentors undergo a detailed training orientation and receive ongoing training throughout the school year. The goal is for the mentors to stay with their assigned student through high school.

The Houston County School District receives community support to fund a portion of each scholarship, and the REACH program provides the remainder of the funding. PBK Architects, Bank of Dudley, Robertson Loia Roof Architects & Engineers, and the International City Optimist Club each provided support to fund a full scholarship. Additional support was also received from MidSouth Community Federal Credit Union and Golden Key Realty.

Monica Smith serves as Houston County School District’s REACH Scholar Coordinator. Anyone interested in contributing toward future REACH Scholarships can contact [email protected]. For more information about REACH Georgia, please visit www.reachga.org.