$36 million in offers, many to first generation college goers
By Mark Hebert
April 27, 2023 – Fern Creek High School’s senior class found another way to celebrate the school’s 100th anniversary. The seniors received a school record amount of merit-based college scholarship offers – more than $36 million.
“Fern Creek is passionate about ensuring access and opportunity for all of our students,” said Principal Rebecca Nicolas. “This year, our Postsecondary Access counselor, Beau Baker, was able to expand the scope of our program and work with all seniors to ensure postsecondary success.”
Fern Creek’s 365 seniors have been accepted to 144 different colleges or universities in 36 different states. More than 70 percent of Fern Creek students are considered low income and eligible to receive free and reduced price lunches. Seven of the students earned more than one million dollars in scholarship offers. All seven are students of color and six will be first generation college students. Jaymes Griggs is one of those students.
“I’m passionate about my education,” Griggs said. “The teachers at Fern Creek recognized that passion and helped me reach my full potential. The greatest part of my experience was the relationships and support system I found with the teachers and staff at Fern Creek. It takes me 40 minutes to get to school each day and I’m glad I did it. I wouldn’t change a thing.”
Griggs also praised Baker. “I wouldn’t have known about my opportunities without Mr. Baker,” Griggs said.
Griggs plans to attend Occidental College in Los Angeles, one of the most prestigious liberal arts schools in the country. Griggs has scholarships that will cover all but $5,000 of Occidental’s $81,000 annual tuition, housing, meals and other costs.
“These students are leaders, advocates and passionate learners who likely couldn’t afford a top college or university or may have been overlooked by them,” Baker said. “We’re giving these seniors a little assistance to ensure they receive all the offers they deserve with options to attend the college of their dreams.”
“We are so proud of this class and their incredible achievements,” Nicolas said. “The stories you will hear from our Seniors are inspiring and will convince you that our public schools are critical in providing access to the kind of opportunities all kids deserve.”