Teachers at the Southwest DeKalb High School called the attention of 14 scholarship applicants last April 18. Apparently, none of them knew that a big surprise was coming. None of them knew that Georgia State University was about to change their lives.
According to earlier reports, the students believed that there would only be one winner. However, as soon as they sat down, the big revelation occurred. All of them got 100 percent scholarship grants from Georgia State University. They are now set to complete a two-year program at the University's Decatur campus.
The grants, which were awarded based on essays and grades, were funded by a $14.5 million budget from State Farm. Per the GSU News Hub, an additional $5.5 million from the same company will fund other student programs. Thus, the total budget is at a staggering $20 million. It means that more students will benefit from it in the coming months.
As a matter of fact, the 14 students from the Southwest DeKalb High School are not the only ones who will receive gifts this year. Thirty-six Decatur high school students will also be given scholarships. Moreover, the awards will not just provide financial assistance for the tuition fee, but also aids for issues they might face along the way.
For example, if the beneficiaries underperform in a prerequisite course, GSU will support them in getting tutorial classes so they can cope up. The point is that the University does not want their recipients to not reach the final destination of collegiate education. Now, per USA Today, the class of 2017 will not be the one group to receive the State farm's donation.
Otherwise known as the Learning, Income, and Family Transformation (LIFT) program, this year's surprises are only part of a bigger project. LIFT aims to help 40 to 50 high school seniors every year. Indeed, this is one of the most sustainable grants ever given by a company or a University to the less fortunate.
