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The South County Adopt a 5th Grader Committee had an audacious goal this year: to increase student scholarships from one per school to one per fifth grade classroom. With the help and support of our local community we met this goal. We awarded 13 scholarships to fifth graders in the Konocti and Middletown School Districts.
At the end of the year assembly at each elementary school, these students were recognized. Each student was given a check for $25 from their school’s PTO and told that the details of their scholarship are as follows: when they graduate from high school, they will receive $500. However, if they enroll at Woodland College with 12 units, they will receive $1000. How they spend this money is up to them.
The Adopt a 5th Grader Committee members will periodically make contact with students as they pass through grades six to 12 to support and monitor their progress. Students will be encouraged to stay focused on school and attaining whatever career or post-graduate training they are aiming for.
This program is relatively new to South County. This is only its fourth year, and being entirely funded by local donations, we are deeply grateful to those donors who chose to support us. This list includes the Lake County Wine Alliance, the California Retired Teachers Association, Division #35, the Lakeshore Lioness, Community First Credit Union, Twin Pines Casino, Mark Cooper, William and Barbara Christwitz, Olga and Jim Steele, Mark Boyle and the PTO
at every elementary school. Some donors wished to remain anonymous, we thank them deeply as well.
Our purpose is to catch students early and help instill in them a positive sense about their own futures. Students who have personally set their own goals and are supported are much less likely to get off track and on a negative path, and more likely to become responsible, independent citizens. That’s something we all care about.
Carolynn Jarrett lives in Clearlake, California.
