On May 17, 2022, 84 students from the Greene County High School Class of 2022 received $120,000 in earned financial assistance, awarded to them by Thillen Education Foundation. “Students earned ‘Dave Dollar’ financial commitments throughout their high school career for academic and professional milestones achieved,” says Dave Thillen, founder. “We are so honored to have presented these students with real funds to continue their education, advance their professional and technical skills, or launch their skilled trade careers.”
A community effort, more than 120 career coaches dedicated countless hours to conducting individual and group meetings with students who earned financial assistance and “Next Step Funds” for continued education or military and career advancement, Thillen says.
Next Step Scholarship Award Recipients Plan to Attend:
Albany State
Athens Technical College
Augusta University
Georgia Southern
North GA Technical College
University of Georgia
University of North Georgia
Wesleyan College
Military Recipients Plan to Serve:
National Guard
U.S. Air Force Reserve
Entrepreneurs Plan Career Starts In:
Photography
Fashion – Clothing Brand
Special Needs Enrichment to Take Place:
Extra Special People (ESP) Camp
Looking Ahead to Future Graduating Classes – and More Earned Financial Awards
“When we began the community partnership between Thillen Education Foundation and Greene College & Career Academy at Greene County High School in 2018, we anticipated the day on which we would financially reward students for their dedication, hard work, and forward life planning,” Thillen says. “Now, we are proud to say that we have enriched the lives of 84 students, with hundreds more in line to experience the same post-graduation recognition and financial assistance in the years ahead.”
Each year, the program grows to include more community members meaningfully interacting with individual students. When school starts again in the fall, a total of 130 career coaches will work with the 450 students who attend GCHS.
After successfully raising $1 million in a 2022-2022 capital campaign, more than 200 individual and corporate donors empowered this year’s $120,000 financial assistance awards. “Our foundation’s plan is to continue the program in perpetuity with similar or greater financial assistance for each graduating class,” Thillen says. “If our community has taught us anything it’s that we have only just begun to help realize the ambitions and dreams for so many deserving young people at Greene County High School.”
The Thillen Education Foundation, Inc. is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit created for the sole purpose of providing financial assistance for all students participating in the Career Coaching Program at Greene College and Career Academy at GCHS where the total minority enrollment is 90%, and 98% of students live below the poverty line. Visit www.thilleneducationfoundation.com.
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