Dublin school board holds signing ceremony for REACH Georgia scholars

Two Dublin Middle School students chosen as REACH Georgia Scholars signed contracts Monday pledging to keep up good grades and good behavior throughout high school to earn a $10,000 scholarship.

Upon graduation, eighth-graders Melvin Scott Jr. and Aubrey Lanier will be awarded a $2,500 annual scholarship for up to four years of college that can be used at any Georgia HOPE eligible two or four-year college. The Dublin City Board of Education celebrated the students with a signing ceremony at its meeting Monday night at the Heart of Georgia RESA office.

Lanier and Scott were selected by a committee following an application and interview process. They were joined by family members as they signed their paperwork.

Lanier plans on attending the University of Georgia and “aspires to be a star scientist.” She described the day she received the REACH scholarship was one of the best moments of her life.”

For now, Scott plans to attend
Georgia State where he plans to pursue both of his passions – football and art – and possibly a career in sports medicine.

“These two should be very proud of themselves,” Ben Lanier, school system college and career coordinator, said at Monday’s meeting. 

REACH Georgia is a needs-based mentoring and scholarship program “providing promising students the support to graduate from high school and achieve postsecondary success,” according to gafutures.org – the Georgia Student Finance Commission’s website.

Students must maintain good grades and good conduct to earn the scholarship. They must maintain a 2.5 average in core courses or they will work with an academic coach to explore ways to improve their grades. They almost must remain drug and crime free and follow the school’s code of conduct – in and outside of school.

The Dublin City Schools has named REACH Scholars since 2016. School officials said donations from community partners such as Communities In Schools of Georgia in Laurens/ Twiggs Counties, this year’s sponsor, has allowed them to provide more than 15 students with the opportunity to become REACH Scholars.