Helping young Georgia scholars who show academic promise reach their full potential, but struggle to chart their course due to lack of personal guidance and resources, is the goal of the REACH Georgia Scholarship program. Okefenoke REMC recently made a $1,500 donation to help fund the program that will specifically support a student in need living in the co-op’s southeast GeorgiaOREMC makes check presentation to REACH Georgia. service area.

Started in 2012, REACH identifies potential candidates for the scholarship program in eighth grade. Based on documented financial need, demonstrated academic excellence and a personal interview, students are selected and pledge to uphold academic, attendance and personal conduct standards at a signing ceremony at the end of the fall semester. From there they receive ongoing mentoring with role models who partner and meet with them regularly through their senior year of high school. Those students that complete the program receive a $10,000 scholarship to attend a university, technical college or private school in Georgia. To date the program has accepted 1,800 student scholars and has graduated 133 students with an average GPA of 3.3.

Receiving the donation from OREMC, Sara Neeley, community development with REACH Georgia, noted, “Like so many of Georgia’s electric membership cooperatives, Okefenoke REMC has been a great partner in our efforts to connect with the local school system and businesses to help fund the program and support our students.”

Donations such as this are made possible by OREMC from unclaimed capital credits. Funds must be used to support educational and/or economic development initiatives within OREMC’s eight county service area. “Supporting a REACH scholarship is a direct investment in our community,” stated OREMC Member Services Representative Dewayne Johns. “Personally and professionally I am an advocate for youth education, and believe in the transformative power of helping a child believe in themselves.”

For more information about REACH Georgia Scholarship visit reachga.org.