By Pam Zendt
The year 2022 is shaping up to be another high-recognition year for the Sandy Springs Mission as another one of its students recently was awarded a prestigious and coveted college scholarship.
Nancy Guzman, Ridgeview Charter School 8th grader, received the Georgia REACH award in early November during a school-wide ceremony at the school. REACH, which stands for “Realizing Educational Achievement Can Happen,” comes with a $10,000 college scholarship.
“We are so excited for Nancy today,” Ridgeview principal Opie Blackwell said at the awards ceremony, as tearful family members stood by. “This can also be considered a $20,000 scholarship because most Georgia universities will match the original $10,000 for REACH. So, this is really big deal.”
The REACH program has been in existence for 10 years. Winners have met GPA standards, are involved in their community and have participated in facility interviews. “Nancy has impressed us all the way,” Blackwell said.
Of an estimated 20,000 middle school students in Fulton County, only eight students received the REACH award this year. In addition to the scholarship money, REACH scholars will benefit by being paired with a mentor and an academic coach to ensure they stay on track through high school.
Nancy’s grandmother joyfully said, “I am so thankful to the Sandy Springs Mission for walking with Nancy every year in school by providing with the academic help she needs.”
Ms. Zendt is a volunteer for the Mission and a graduate student in the Professional Writing program at Kennesaw State University.