Sixty students will receive scholarships for the first trimester of the 2016-17 school year for hard work in the classroom.
Students in the Allies in Monroe, or AIM, program at Monroe High School will receive $200 scholarships for a 15 percent increase in their grade point average.
The program launched during the 2014-15 school year to provide an academic incentive to students who worked hard in the classroom. AIM pairs selected students with a mentor, or ally, to work on and achieve agreed-upon academic goals.
Students who achieve their trimester goals are invited to attend a banquet with their allies and families where they are recognized. This year’s trimester banquet will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, Dec. 19 at St. George Cultural Center in Monroe.
AIM is the only program of its kind in a Monroe County high school. This trimester, 130 students signed up and 60 achieved the scholarship money.
The program also relies on angels, which are people, foundations, businesses and organizations that provide financial support to award the financial incentive to students.
AIM is open to all students. Through the program, students can earn up to $2,400 during their high school years to assist with post-secondary goals.
“All of us mentors here at Monroe High School are extremely proud of our students’ success this year,” said David Henry, AIM coordinator. “We are very proud to see our students get fired up about their learning, motivated to rise up and overcome challenges, get excited about their future and where they are headed. That’s what AIM is all about.”
Henry said as a mentor, allies are building relationships with the young men and women and are seeing them flourish.
“Even more importantly, they see it in themselves,” Henry said. “That is what we are proud and excited to be able to be a part of… success!”
First trimester scholarship recipients include seniors Enique Adams, Shane Adrian, Clayton Bomia, Madisen Boylan, Ryenne Braden, Amanda Brooks, Marcus Carey, Hunter Chorkey, Ryan Ernest, Chadd Farrand, Mikal Farris, Tyson Grant, Jovan Johnson, Katelyn Kaschynyc, D’Angelo Logwood, Samantha Long, Orlando Matos-Cruz, Katie McHugh, Bailey Meadows, Kaysie Pancone, Desiree Russell, Jordan Scheuer, Skylar Sortor, Danielle Villarreal, Kaylee Watters and Mariah Wilkes.
Juniors include Dakota Bascom, Kristen Bolster, Troy Laidler, Alexis Miller, Roman Senavanh-Smith and Kayla Shankleten.
Sophomores include Mercedes Beavers, Stephanie Britton, Nick Bunch, Gabrielle Burks, Drake Byrd, Elise Christian, Nya Davis, Devin Flynn, Madison Hardy, Eric Helberg, Ashlyn Hojnowski, Ali LaFountain, Sekura McCarter, Anthony Mora, Madison Rubenshtein, Bailey Shipe, Anna Traver, Allie Walter and Tyrese Watkins.
Freshmen include Casey Caplin, Henry Germeroth, Thomas Grant, Colton Hirst, Calley Johnson, Jack Longfellow, Kylie Miller, Gracey Smiley and Davis Washington.