By Jordan Beach
To become educators, teachers must start as students, and the Cherokee Scholars program allows Reinhardt’s Price School of Education to provide future educators from Cherokee County with a great start to their careers.
Katie Wise, branch manager of LGE Community Credit Union in Woodstock, will serve as the 2019-20 Cherokee Scholars Committee Chair. Her decision to lead the committee stems from her desire to support education in Cherokee County and the success of the scholarship program.
“I am honored to participate in this prestigious scholarship program whose objective is to help fund and underwrite educational costs for deserving students who have demonstrated a desire to achieve at the highest levels of education and personal development in our community,” Wise said.
Wise is excited to lead the efforts for 2019-20 to assist students like MaKayla Newell and Tanner Carruth.
Newell ‘20, an early childhood education major, lived in Canton for nearly a decade before applying to Reinhardt University and will be student-teaching during her senior year. Receiving the Cherokee Scholars scholarship enabled her to follow her love of teaching children.
“The scholarship helps me stay focused on my studies rather than worry about the financial aspect of college,” said Newell.
Newell, who received the “No Greater Love Award” in 2018, works several jobs throughout the community that support her future plans in education. She serves as a Children’s Ministry Coordinator at Canton First United Methodist Church and a babysitter.
Another Early Childhood Education major and Cherokee Scholar, Tanner Carruth ’22, plays baseball for Reinhardt while he studies to become a teacher. Being a part of the Cherokee Scholars program helps Carruth feel supported by his community.
“Being a Cherokee Scholar means a lot knowing that our community supports those in the county who are wanting to get their college degrees,” said Carruth. “This has provided me with funds to be able to continue getting an education. It also helps you want to strive harder to be successful.”
Carruth is working toward taking the Georgia Assessments for the Certification of Educators (GACE) test and plans to work in special education. He hopes to remain local in order to serve the community that supported him.
“[The scholarship] means a little more to me because one day I would like to be an educator for Cherokee County to be able to help our community as this scholarship does for us as students.”
Cherokee Scholars is an annual community initiative that generates grants for Cherokee County students attending Reinhardt University. Since 1988, more than $5 million has been raised for student scholarships.
To support future educators of the PSOE, and any Cherokee County student attending Reinhardt University, visit Reinhardt.edu/Give.
