Five outstanding Bartow County students have earned the chance to attend a Georgia college, university, or technical school at little to no cost after graduating and completing the REACH Georgia Scholarship Program.
The 2025 REACH Georgia Scholars are Logan Miller of Adairsville Middle School, Joy Tchopkwe of Cass Middle School, Miley Mancilla of Red Top Middle School, and Taiba Omran and Levi Plunk of Woodland Middle School. This ninth cohort of scholars officially signed their commitment letters Tuesday at the Bartow County College and Career Academy, joined by school leaders, board members, and community representatives.
Students are nominated in the spring of their seventh-grade year by counselors and teachers based on academic performance, attendance, and behavior. After completing an application process that includes interviews, they are selected to join nearly 40 other Bartow County students already in the program.
REACH Georgia provides academic and social support to ensure scholars graduate from high school and pursue a college degree or technical certificate. Each student is paired with a mentor to guide them along the way.
“I was excited to welcome this new cohort of scholars,” said Program Coordinator Kristy Mitchell. “When I visited schools to announce the selections, the students were thrilled. They jumped, screamed, and called parents to share the great news—there were even some happy tears. Their reactions show they understand the value of this scholarship. It’s not given; it’s earned. In eighth grade, high school graduation still feels far away, but their excitement tells me they’re ready to put in the work. I can’t wait to support them as they strive for postsecondary success.”
Upon successful completion of the program, each scholar receives a $10,000 scholarship. Some colleges match or even double that amount, allowing students to earn up to $30,000, in addition to other scholarship opportunities.
Now in its 13th year, REACH Georgia serves more than 4,000 scholars across all 180 school systems statewide.