Atlanta metro area students to receive state scholarships for college

Dozens of Atlanta metro Atlanta students are expected to receive scholarships for college as part of a recently launched state program aimed at helping financially needy students.

Accompanied by Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal, eight Fulton County middle school students signed commitments Wednesday during a ceremony at Fulton's school district headquarters to graduate from high school — accepting a $10,000 college scholarship funded by the REACH Georgia program. Some 50 other metro area students will also be participating in the REACH program.

Launched in 2012, REACH Georgia is a needs-based scholarship that begins in eighth grade. REACH scholars are paired with a mentor and an academic coach through high school. Scholars must maintain good behavior, good grades (2.5 GPA in core courses) and good attendance, and graduate from high school.

Scholars who complete the program and graduate are awarded a $10,000 scholarship that can be used at any HOPE-eligible college in Georgia. Many colleges are matching or double-matching this scholarship. The scholarship is in addition to any other grant or scholarship the student receives.

With Wednesday’s signing, the program will have 155 REACH Scholars in Georgia. Some 58 of the 155 would be from school districts in Douglas County, Atlanta Public Schools, Fulton, DeKalb County, Decatur city and Marietta city, according to state officials.