Earlier in November, joy and excitement filled the room as four Cobb Middle School students committed to a future of success. 

Surrounded by their family, principals, and caring community members, the eighth graders celebrated a major milestone in their educational journeys by signing for the Georgia REACH Scholarship, which will support them through high school and beyond. 

At the annual Cobb Schools Foundation signing ceremony, students from Lindley Middle, Palmer Middle, and Pine Mountain Middle officially marked the beginning of an academic pathway to college. 

Cobb’s 2024 Georgia REACH Scholars:

• Alayah Kinard, Lindley Middle School 
• Irving Mendoza Leyva, Lindley Middle School 
• McKinley Hooker, Palmer Middle School 
• Za'Riyah Bartley, Pine Mountain Middle School 

The REACH Georgia Scholarship Program, launched statewide in 2012, aims to support promising students from low-income backgrounds. Rising 8th graders attending REACH-partnered schools in Georgia are eligible to apply, and each year, scholarship recipients are selected based on academic potential, financial need, and their dedication to success. Special consideration is given to students who are the first in their families to attend college, those working to improve their grades, and students who maintain good behavior and attendance. 

For each Cobb student chosen, the Cobb Schools Foundation raises $1,000, with REACH Georgia providing the additional scholarship support.

At the ceremony, parents joined their children in signing the REACH Scholarship contract, pledging to support them in their journey. As part of the agreement, the students commit to maintaining a 2.5 GPA or higher, upholding good behavior and attendance, and meeting regularly with a mentor and academic coach who will guide them through high school. 

Superintendent Chris Ragsdale and members of the Cobb Schools Foundation, along with school leaders, counselors, and social workers, stood by to cheer them on and emphasize the significance of this step. 

For these students and their families, knowing they have a clear path to college—with the full support of the school district and their community—made this celebration even more meaningful. The Cobb Schools Foundation, as the Cobb County School District’s philanthropic arm, remains dedicated to helping students achieve new heights and equipping them with the resources they need for a successful future. 

To learn how to help the Cobb Schools Foundation take student success to new heights, visit the Cobb Schools Foundation website.