REACH Georgia Scholarship Program

For additional information or questions, contact:

Sheila Autrey
Fayette County REACHGa Coordinator
autrey.sheila@fcboe.org
770-460-3990 ext. 1145

About

About the Program

What is the REACH Georgia Scholarship program?

REACH Georgia is a statewide needs-based mentorship and scholarship program. It provides academically promising students who have a demonstrated financial need with the academic, social and financial support to help make their dreams of college and a bright future a reality.

In Fayette County, our district joined the program in 2019, and each year can select up to five rising 8th grade students who have strong academic promise, but also significant economic need. Selected scholars are paired with a community mentor and an Academic Coach who works with them through high school graduation. When ReachGa scholars graduate with at least a 2.5 HOPE GPA and maintain good behavior and attendance, they receive a $10,000 scholarship which can be used at any Hope-eligible college, university, or technical school in Georgia. Many of these students may be the first in their families to go to college!

REACH Georgia applicants fill out an application in the spring of 7th grade and recipients are selected and announced in the fall of their 8th-grade year. In a fall signing ceremony, scholars sign a contract along with their parent/guardian to maintain a 2.5 HOPE GPA, continue to have good behavior and school attendance, and meet with a volunteer mentor and academic coach throughout high school.

2025 REACHGA Seniors' Reflections

2024 REACHGa Seniors' Reflections

2023 REACHGa Scholar Announcement video

Parent video - 2023 REACHGa Scholars

Eligibility

REACHGa Scholarship Eligibility Requirements

U.S. Citizen or eligible non-citizen
Must be an 8th grader upon final selection
Student must demonstrate good behavior, attendance, and the potential to graduate high school with at least a 2.5+ HOPE calculated GPA.
Must demonstrate and prove financial need by one of the following methods:
- SNAP or TANF Eligible
- Foster or Homeless Youth
- Live in a low-income household as defined by the Federal Income Eligibility Guidelines.

Application

Apply to the Program

The deadline for application submission was May 15, 2026

IMPORTANT! Before applying, check your income eligibility. Income eligibility documentation MUST be included with the completed application or student will not be considered. Examples of a few of the most commonly used acceptable types of documentation include: Free/Reduced Lunch Eligibility Letter (received from FCPS School Nutrition Program district office); SNAP or TANF Eligibility Letter.

Application Procedures

Choose one of the options below to complete and submit your application.

OPTION 1

Print all pages of this application: English, Spanish
Complete the entire application using ink.
Arrange for Teacher/Community Recommendations to be submitted using one of the following methods:

Email directly to Sheila Autrey at autrey.sheila@fcboe.org
Send through the FCPS inter-county courier
Mail to Sheila Autrey at the address provided below
Include them with the completed application when submitting

OPTION 2

Download the application: English, Spanish
Open the file using Adobe Acrobat.
Complete all required fields in the form.
Save the completed application.
Print the completed form so it is ready for signatures.
Sign and date all sections that require a signature.
Arrange for Teacher/Community Recommendations to be submitted using one of the following methods:

Email directly to Sheila Autrey at autrey.sheila@fcboe.org
Send through the FCPS inter-county courier
Mail to Sheila Autrey at the address provided below
Include them with the completed application when submitting

Submit your completed application and income documentation

When ready to submit completed forms, include a copy of the application and income verification documentation. Completed forms can be submitted by mail or dropped off in person to:

Sheila Autrey
LaFayette Educational Center
205 LaFayette Avenue
Fayetteville, GA 30214

Become a Mentor

Community mentors play a vital role in helping our ReachGa scholars establish goals, develop key life skills, build confidence and self-worth. Mentors are caring adults who share their life experiences, expertise and, most importantly, have an interest in helping a student grow and thrive. Each ReachGa mentor commits to meeting with their student at school at least once a week for about 45 minutes throughout the school year. All mentors go through a background check and training prior to being accepted and placed with a student.

To apply to become a mentor, please complete this form in concert with our Friends Mentoring Program, and select the Reach Georgia Scholars program on the form. We will then follow up with you to provide any additional information, and begin the screening process when you’re ready to take the next step!

Mentor Video

Support REACH Georgia

Support the REACH Georgia Program

We are on a mission to provide up to five rising 8th grade students with the academic, social and financial support needed to graduate from high school, access college, and achieve success after graduation. The REACH Georgia scholarship provides academically promising and deserving students from low-income households in Fayette with academic coaches, community mentors, and a $10,000 scholarship upon successful completion of the program and high school graduation.

You can change a life today by helping us fund one of these scholarships! With every $1,000 we raise in our Fayette community, Reach Georgia will supplement with $9,000 from the state organization so we can select a deserving young person in our schools to benefit from the program. No donation is too small and it may be tax-deductible.

ReachGa Impact

To donate online, select Fayette County from the dropdown menu at https://donate.reachgafoundation.org

Or make checks payable to:

Fayette County Education Foundation
205 LaFayette Avenue
Fayetteville, Ga 30214
(Please write REACH Georgia scholarship in the memo line)