Georgia Magazine - January 2020 - 26

The REACH Georgia Scholarship is funded by donations
from businesses and residents around the state. Some of the
major donors include local electric membership corporations (EMCs), which give to the REACH Foundation from their
unclaimed capital credits, which are funds that are issued to
customers but never cashed.
"During the interviews, we meet many wonderful students who live with their grandparents or face other troubles at
home," says Susan Poole of Flint Energies in Reynolds, which
funds scholarships in Marion County and five adjacent counties
west of Macon. "It's rewarding to see someone who has great
potential have something good happen in their life."
The need-based scholarship supports students of many
walks of life across the state, including the children of refugees
and some who are the first in their families to attend college.
For most, this is their ticket to college, says Diane McClearen,
director of community and external relations for Oglethorpe
Power Corp. in Tucker.
"The fact that this changes the direction of a student's life
goes far beyond what we donate," she says. "I can't think of another opportunity that provides this type of value for the dollars
invested, and it grows exponentially as students move forward
through school and life."
Many of the scholars plan to return to their communi-

26

Georgia Magazine

January 2020

ties after college and bring back the new qualifications and
knowledge they acquired. For some skills-starved counties in
rural parts of Georgia, the scholarship is a lifesaving economic
investment, says DeWayne Johns of Okefenoke Rural EMC in
Nahunta, between Waycross and Brunswick.
"It's hard to coax someone with a professional degree to
come here unless they have ties here," he says. "This provides a
way to stand behind our kids as businesspeople and say that we
want them to pursue higher education and then come back to
their communities to help."
Johns, who grew up in the same community where he
works now, sees the program's mentorship and coaching offerings as an avenue to help kids break the vicious cycle of poverty
that exists in some of Georgia's rural areas.
"Sometimes our kids don't believe they have the opportunity to go to school, due to their financial or social backgrounds," he says. "We need to address that, and this is just one
way we're doing it."
Carolyn Crist is a freelance writer based in Athens.

OL SYSTEM
UNTY SCHO

SCHLEY COUNTY

Above left: Eighth grader and
REACH scholar Simon Hill, center, celebrates his
signing day with his grandmother, Dru Hill, and Susan Poole with
Flint Energies. Above right: Family members and officials with Macon
County Middle School, Flint Energies, Magnolia Baptist Church and
the Macon County Board of Education celebrate the announcement
of Macon County Middle School REACH Georgia scholars (seated,
from left) Zy'Kemmia Brown and Mikerria Hardrick.

MACON CO

Backed by electric
cooperatives

SCHOOLS

MONROE COUNTY SCHOOLS

Top: Family members and
officials from Oglethorpe
Power Corp., Central
Georgia EMC, Monroe
County Schools and the
Monroe County Board of
Education congratulate
Monroe County REACH
scholars (holding check,
from left) Devin Jenkins and
Madison Grier.
Georgia Magazine - January 2020

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