On February 6 at 7:00 p.m. in the Theatre, we will gather with the parents of current 9th and 10th grade students to talk about the HOPE Scholarship. Our presenter from the Georgia Student Finance Commission will share valuable college planning information including recent changes to HOPE and resources available on GAcollege411.
 

You may be wondering why this meeting is aimed at parents of freshmen and sophomores. The HOPE Scholarship is a significant source of college funding for many Brookwood families. We want to make sure students and parents understand how HOPE GPA is calculated and how important it is to keep GPAs up from the onset of high school. 
 

Last spring, to keep up with rising enrollment and tuition costs, Governor Nathan Deal signed into law program payment reductions to the HOPE Scholarship. As an example, according to an article in last week's AJC, a HOPE recipient at UGA now currently receives $3,281.50 per semester. Tuition at UGA is $3,641 and mandatory fees (not paid by HOPE) total $1,095 per semester.  Deeper cuts may come in 2014, meaning larger out-of-pocket expenses for families.
 

HOPE eligibility has not changed.  Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA or higher, enroll in an eligible post-secondary institution, meet residency requirements, be a US citizen, and be registered for selective service. Top students may qualify for a full-tuition Zell Miller Scholarship, reserved for valedictorians, salutatorians, and graduates with very strong GPAs and test scores.  
 

The Georgia Student Finance Commission calculates HOPE GPAs based on transcripts provided by Gwinnett County Public Schools.  To find your student's HOPE average, students or their parents may sign onto www.gacollege 411.org and create an account.  You may find this 5-minute video helpful in explaining how HOPE GPA is calculated.

We look forward to gathering with the parents of the Classes of 2014 and 2015 on February 6.  We'll make sure they have the information they need as they plan for what comes after high school.

Sincerely,
 

Cary

P.S. The latest Senior Bulletin and Junior Bulletin list all sorts of opportunities for students, including some internships and job opportunities.  We recently heard good news from Senior Mariah Mitchell.  She learned of an opportunity with the Gwinnett Braves Promotion Team from our Senior Bulletin, applied for the position, interviewed, and has been selected.  This group will serve as entertainment staff on field between innings, assist with contests and promos during home games and with marketing efforts and community outreach.  Have you used the bulletin to get a scholarship, internship or a job?  Let us know; we've love to celebrate your good news.