Eleven Hopkins County high school students will be on the receiving end of more than $440,000 in awards on the evening of Thursday, June 11 when they are announced as the recipients of the second year of John and Deborah Gillis Foundation Bright Stars scholarships.
Almost a half of a million dollars will be pledged to the Bright Stars recipients to fund their college educations. Each of the 11 students will receive $4,000 per semester, renewable for up to eight semesters, to pay for college.
Bright Stars is the largest single scholarship program in Hopkins County.
The recipients and their families will be recognized at a reception beginning at 6 pm. at the Sulphur Springs Country Club. Due to COVID-19 protocols the event will be much smaller this year and include immediate family only.
The Bright Stars scholarships are open each year to all graduating seniors from the seven school districts in Hopkins County: Como-Pickton, Cumby, Miller Grove, North Hopkins, Saltillo, Sulphur Bluff and Sulphur Springs.
Last year, John and Deborah Gillis announced the largest private educational initiative ever undertaken in Hopkins County with the formation of the John and Deborah Gillis Foundation which provided scholarships for students and grants for school districts.
The foundation will consistently work closely with Hopkins County school districts to ensure a strong alignment between their own educational goals and the foundation’s mission and goals of college and career readiness. The grant funding’s intentions are ultimately to increase Hopkins County graduates’ chances of competing in a global society for college entrances of their choice and competitive career opportunities.