More colleges commit to Georgia's new scholarship

Thirteen more Georgia colleges have pledged matching funds to students who receive REACH, the state's new needs-based scholarship, Gov. Nathan Deal's office announced Friday.

The new schools include Agnes Scott College, Georgia Southern University, Mercer University and the Savannah College of Art Design.

Georgia State University, Georgia Tech and the University of Georgia had already promised to match the program's award of annual tuition scholarships of $2,500 for up to four years.

REACH (Realizing Educational Achievement Can Happen) is a privately funded scholarship targeting students from low-income homes. Middle school students will be paired with mentors and receive other support to help them graduate from high school. If the students maintain good grades and stay out of trouble, they will receive the scholarship money.

The first scholarships will be awarded in fall 2017.

The program will start small, with just 25 students from Bulloch, Douglas and Rabun counties. Deal said the program will expand as the state receives more donations. AT&T donated $250,000 to support the first scholars.

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