MACON, Ga. — Wednesday was signing day, but not like you normally see with student-athletes proudly declaring their college choice.
Six Bibb County Middle School students received $10,000 dollars in academic scholarships to help advance their education and future careers.
The applications, acceptances, and funding all come from the school district's REACH Foundation, which is a need-based mentorship and scholarship program.
Students are provided with the academic, social and financial support to help them graduate from high school, attend college, and be prepared for the workforce.
Today, students celebrated at W.S. Hutchings College and Career Academy with their parents, administrators, and principals of Bibb County's high schools.
Khilee Mann, an eighth grader at Howard Middle School was there with his family to receive the scholarship. He's interested in pursuing a career as a content creator for the health and fitness field.
"Education is beautiful and you can learn so many things and there's so many careers that you can pursue with education and it really helps," Mann said. "This scholarship is life-changing for me. This will help and create so many opportunities for me."
Annabelle Ellison is an eighth grader at Rutland Middle School and plans be a domestic violence lawyer. She says she wants to help people in her community, especially since her community has been there for her.
"This just really helps me and my family out altogether," Ellison said. "It's an amazing feeling. I'm a competitive person and I like getting good grades and getting awards."
Cristian Perez is an eighth grader at Weaver Middle School and said he wants to be a barber and own his barber shop one day. He said the $10,000 will be set aside for college and to start up his business.
"I want to thank God though, for real," Perez said. "He helped me through a lot. Growing up wasn't really easy so I'm really grateful for this. Just paying attention in school, helping out in the community, feeding the homeless, has gotten me here and I'm so grateful. Education is important, you need it!"