From left are 2019 REACH Scholars Kenneth Williams III, Chad White, Skylar Moser, Nayeli Cruz, Sandy Barrera-Cruz and Fatima Allen.

MOULTRIE, Ga. — The State of Georgia’s first needs-based mentorship and scholarship program, REACH Georgia, hosted its annual signing Monday at 10 a.m. at Willie J. Williams Middle School.

Gov. Brian Kemp has designated Oct. 21-25, 2019, as REACH Georgia’s Statewide Signing Week. The mission of the program is to ensure the academic, social and financial support that academically promising students need to graduate high school, access college and achieve postsecondary success.

The new Willie J. Williams REACH scholars for the 2019 school year were eighth graders Fatima Allen, Sandy Barrera-Cruz, Nayeli Cruz, Skylar Moser, Chad White and Kenneth Williams III.

REACH Scholars and their parents or guardians in school systems across Georgia signed contracts that committed themselves to graduating from high school, satisfying program requirements and enrolling in and completing college.

Scholars who maintain good grades, behavior and attendance as well as successfully complete the REACH program and graduate from high school will be rewarded with a $10,000 scholarship ($2,500 a year) that can be used at a University System of Georgia, Technical College System of Georgia or eligible private postsecondary institution. Some institutions have even doubled or tripled the amount of money that a student received, according to Assistant Superintendent Irma Townsend.

This REACH scholarship can be used with other scholarship money. Some of the criteria involved with becoming a REACH Scholar includes meeting with their academic mentor once a week, maintaining at least a 2.5 grade point average and participating in many other REACH activities.

“We’re very proud of our REACH students,” said Superintendent Doug Howell during the signing. “We hope to see our seventh graders follow in these kids’ footsteps next year.”