Sonoraville High School received one of 21 GACHE awarded grants totaling $182,300 to area high schools to assist them in continuing to increase their post-secondary enrollment rates. Sonoraville’s portion of the award was $10,000, September 25, according to a press release from the Georgia Appalachian Center for Higher Education (GACHE).

“We are fortunate to be affiliated with the Georgia Appalachian Center for Higher Education,” said SHS Graduation Coach Trace Vaughn. “GACHE funded programs have become a vital part of the SHS culture, and this is one major reason for our success with graduation and post-secondary attendance rates.”

GACHE’s annual Conference & Check Presentation was held at North Georgia College & State University in Dahlonega, Georgia.

The conference featured presentations on working with and teaching the millennial generation and understanding how to handle and deal with change.

Dr.Patricia Donat, VP for Executive Affairs, NGCSU, Dr. Robert Michael, Dean of School of Education, NGCSU, Dr. Christy Price, Professor, Dalton State College, and Dr. Terry Lashley, Director, SouthEast Educational, Inc. (TnACHE), were all present to speak at the event.

Area colleges, universities, technical colleges, system superintendents, principals, graduation coaches, counselors, RESA directors, chambers of commerce presidents, business and industry partners and media representatives were present to celebrate as James Thompson, Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) State Director, and Shirley Davis, GACHE Director, presented “clearing-house” style checks along with “real money” to each of the schools listed.

These schools will use these funds to implement GACHE’s model strategies to assist and encourage students to continue their education beyond high school by enrolling in and completing a post-secondary program.

“We are excited that so many educators and business professionals were willing to step up to the challenge of ensuring that students are ready for college with real post-secondary choices after high school. The economic consequences for failure to continue one’s education after high school are severe. 85 percent of the jobs available to the students who graduate in 2013 will require at least two years of post-secondary education. We want every student to have college as a viable option!” said Davis.

For more information contact the GACHE office at 706-865-2141, ext 237, visit the GACHE website, www.gachegrants.org, or email gache@northgeorgia.edu .

If you would like to watch the archived live broadcast, please go to http:// www.useducationtv.com/default.aspx?sid=481#01b34ca9f28d47db9853e51608989370_0