Georgia Appalachian Center for Higher Education-“GACHE”

Awards Monetary Grants to 27 Local High Schools

For Immediate Release: (note list of schools at end of article)

Announced today, GACHE will be awarding 27 monetary grants on September 20^th to area high schools to assist them in continuing to increase their post-secondary enrollment rates.  The event, to be held from 9:00 am until 3:00 pm at Chattahoochee Technical College, Appalachian Campus in Jasper, Georgia, will kick off with a panel discussion on “moving the finish line from high school graduation to post-secondary and career success”.  The distinguished panel will include

• Dr. Lynne Weisenbach, Vice Chancellor, University System of Georgia
• Commissioner Ron Jackson, Technical College System of Georgia
• Commissioner Mike Beatty, Georgia Department of Community Affairs
• Dr. Steve Dolinger, President, Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education
• Mr. Bob Swiggum, Chief Information Officer, Georgia Department of Education
• Dr. Martha Reichrath, Deputy State School Superintendent, Georgia Department of Education
• Dr. Gale Hulme, Executive Director, Georgia Leadership Institute for School Improvement
• Moderator:  Ms. Susan Walker, Deputy Director, Governor’s Office of Student Achievement.

Area colleges, universities, technical colleges, system superintendents, principals, graduation coaches, counselors, RESA directors, chambers of commerce presidents, local and state elected officials and media representatives will be present to celebrate as Commissioner Mike Beatty, James Thompson, Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) State Director, and Shirley Davis, GACHE Director, present “clearing-house” style checks along with “real money” to each of the schools listed below.

These schools will implement GACHE’s model strategies to assist and encourage students to continue their education beyond high school by enrolling in and completing a post-secondary program.  “We are excited that so many superintendents, school principals, faculties and staff were willing to step up to the challenge of ensuring that their students are ready for college with real post-secondary choices after high school graduation.  The economic consequences for failure to continue education after high school are severe. 80% of the jobs available to the students who graduate in 2012 will require at least two years of post-secondary education. We want every student to have college as a viable option!” said Davis.

About the Georgia Appalachian Center for Higher Education

GACHE is funded by the Appalachian Regional Commission with North Georgia College and State University serving as fiscal agent.  Cooperative partnerships have been formed with Northeast Georgia RESA, North Georgia RESA, Northwest Georgia RESA, and Pioneer RESA who assist GACHE in “moving the finish line from high school graduation to post-secondary and career success”.  In addition, GACHE has an on-going partnership with the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC) for collecting, analyzing and providing post-secondary enrollment information for GACHE schools to improve post-secondary enrollment for their students.  GACHE is a member of the Appalachian Higher Education Network (AHEN) and one of nine higher education centers in the 13 Appalachian states who encourage and assist students to enroll in and complete a post-secondary education.

For more information, please contact the GACHE office at 706-865-2141, ext 237, or visit the GACHE website, www.gachegrants.org, or email gache@northgeorgia.edu.

Schools Receiving Grants by RESA District

NORTH GA. RESA SCHOOLS:

Murray County High School,

North Murray County High School

Mountain Creek Academy (Murray County)

Fannin County High School

Whitfield Career Academy

Phoenix High School (Whitfield County)

NORTHEAST GA. RESA SCHOOLS:

Jackson County High School

Winder-Barrow High School

Apalachee High School (Barrow County)

NORTHWEST GA. RESA SCHOOLS:

Gordon Central High School

Sonoraville High School (Gordon County)

Cartersville High School

Cedartown High School

Coosa High School and Floyd County PLC

Model High School and Floyd County PLC

Rockmart High School

PIONEER RESA SCHOOLS:

Banks County High School

Woody Gap High School (Union County)

Habersham Central High School

Hart County High School

Mountain Education Center-Union

Mountain Education Center-Stephens

Mountain Education Center-Lumpkin

Union County High School

Stephens County High School

White County High School

Wood’s Mill High School (Gainesville City)