"Taking REAP to the Next Level"

Without a doubt, the Paducah Rotary Club's REAP program has been a huge success over the years by funding about $750,000 in loans, grants and scholarships to area students, as well as major contributions to educational projects, such as the Challenger Learning Center. Rotarians Ed Hely, Dwane Tucker and Barbara Veazey asked the Club to expand the program's reach even farther with a new, tentatively named "Community Scholarship Program."

A committee, approved by the REAP Board, has been meeting for several months, studying similar programs, and developing criteria for this program. Committee members are Edward Hely, Barbara Veazey, Dwane Tucker, George Shaw, John Halsell, Ken Wheeler, Gerry Montgomery, BA Hamilton, Elaine Spalding, and LV McGinty. In addition, Dr. Randy Greene, Paducah Independent Schools and Mr. Tim Heller, McCracken County Schools, consulted with the committee. Additional input & support was given to the committee by Steve Freeman, Susan Graves, Barbara Maxey of WKCTC and Tracie Deaton, Executive Sec. for Rotary Club of Paducah.

Following the successful lead of more than 30 Rotary Clubs in the nation, the program would enroll Paducah-McCracken County students, meeting certain criteria, into the scholarship program beginning in the 8th grade. The students would commit to maintaining a minimum 2.5 GPA with no discipline problems and good attendance throughout grades 9 through 12. In return, the students would receive tuition at WKCTC for 15 semester hours for four consecutive semesters, hopefully resulting in an associate degree or technical certification for the student.

As proposed, Rotary would be the ongoing program facilitator, in conjunction with WKCTC as the program administrator,and the PJC Foundation as the financial administrator. Other partners would include the Paducah and McCracken County school systems, local governments, local businesses, other foundations and individuals.

The estimated cost of the program for the first two years is $500,000 with the goal of founding an endowment to pay 20% to 30% of the total cost. If successful, the new program would reach the 27% of high school graduates that do not continue on to post secondary education or training, and boost the retention rate of WKCTC to well above the current 62% rate. WKCTC President Barbara Veazey said the number one reasons drop out before earning a degree is "money."

The Club hopes to gain approval to begin the program with 8th graders next spring.