A total of 7 local students from Russellville High School earned the scholarships. They included: Frankie Galvin, Brandon Jennett, Thomas Shifflett, Ethan Shutt, Taylor Swallows, Seth Washington, Caleb Wills.
In addition to $1,000 scholarships, three students were recognized February 28th during a ceremony in Louisville as part of GEAR UP Kentucky’s 2011 Institute for a College-Going Culture. GEAR UP, Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs, works with Kentucky parents, schools, colleges, businesses, communities, and non-profit organizations to mentor and improve the skills of middle and high school students with the result of making them college and career ready.
During the awards program, Council on Postsecondary Education President Bob King challenged the students to excel academically and to choose college so they can become leaders who will improve the quality of life for people in their communities, state, country and world.
“Today is not the first step but an early step in that trip toward leadership. By being recognized for having earned the scholarships is an important indicator that we have our eye on the right people, with the right talent, with the right drive and the right dedication to provide that leadership to a world that desperately needs it.
“So, I wish to each of you not just good luck, but a bright and brilliant future because I expect, as I hope you will expect of yourselves, very high achievement,” said King.
Russellville High School is very proud of these students, and would like to thank GEAR UP for this recognition.
Part of the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education, GEAR UP is a federally funded program that works with schools and families to create college-going cultures in communities where more than 50 percent of the enrolled students come from low-income backgrounds. GEAR UP Kentucky has sites hosted by partners in seven regions across Kentucky, including Fayette County, Hazard Community and Technical College, University of Louisville, Morehead State University, Murray State University, Northern Kentucky Council of Partners/Northern Kentucky Education Co-Operative and Western Kentucky University.
To be eligible for the scholarship, students must attend a school in the GEAR UP Kentucky program, have participated in all the EXPLORE and PLAN assessments and reached the benchmark in at least two of the subject areas of the 2009 PLAN assessments. They also needed to maintain at least a 2.5 grade point average, and submit an essay and references. Students will receive the scholarships when they enroll in college.
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